Ground Ear Maize (GEM)

Growing Maize for Ground Ear Harvesting

The Samco System enables growers to harvest maize crops for ground ear maize (GEM). Ground ear maize is forage produced by ensiling the chopped maize ear and is harvested using a cob picker header mounted on a forage harvester. A high grain yield and good grain maturity is normally required for the successful production of GEM and the Samco System has been shown to enable growers to achieve both.

Usually low seed rates are adopted when a maize crop is cultivated with the intention of harvesting GEM, often anywhere between 85 000seeds per hectare and 98 000 seeds per hectare. By sowing less seed the crop can mature earlier and transfer all the sugar in the leaf and the stem into the ear of the corn where the starch is stored.

At harvesting the plant stems are pulled down through the header, chopped and spread over the soil. The cobs however are 'snapped' off the stem during this process and continue through the harvester where they are chopped. The resulting forage is blown into the trailer ready for clamping. Samco recommend the use of inoculants to improve stability of the ensiled material. Pioneer Brand 11A44 is recommended.

Ground Ear Maize

Some growers prefer to harvest their maize as GEM because of the cost savings incurred through the haulage of higher value lower bulk forage.

Average yields per hectare are 17 tonnes with 50% Dry Matter and 50% Starch. GEM is an excellent high energy palatable feed for both beef and milk production.


Samco Agricultural Manufacturing Ltd., Adare, Co. Limerick, Ireland Tel: + 353 61 396176 - Fax: + 353 61 395123 - Email:info@samco.ie
Home The Samco System Machine Spec. Machine Sales Plastic Film Spec. Samco Trials. Research Data Weed Control Enquiry & Location Soil Fertility Forage Maize Ground Ear Maize Grain Maize Moist Grain Maize	Ground Ear Maize (GEM) Growing Maize for Ground Ear Harvesting The Samco System enables growers to harvest maize crops for ground ear maize (GEM). Ground ear maize is forage produced by ensiling the chopped maize ear and is harvested using a cob picker header mounted on a forage harvester. A high grain yield and good grain maturity is normally required for the successful production of GEM and the Samco System has been shown to enable growers to achieve both. Usually low seed rates are adopted when a maize crop is cultivated with the intention of harvesting GEM, often anywhere between 85 000seeds per hectare and 98 000 seeds per hectare. By sowing less seed the crop can mature earlier and transfer all the sugar in the leaf and the stem into the ear of the corn where the starch is stored. At harvesting the plant stems are pulled down through the header, chopped and spread over the soil. The cobs however are 'snapped' off the stem during this process and continue through the harvester where they are chopped. The resulting forage is blown into the trailer ready for clamping. Samco recommend the use of inoculants to improve stability of the ensiled material. Pioneer Brand 11A44 is recommended. Ground Ear Maize Some growers prefer to harvest their maize as GEM because of the cost savings incurred through the haulage of higher value lower bulk forage. Average yields per hectare are 17 tonnes with 50% Dry Matter and 50% Starch. GEM is an excellent high energy palatable feed for both beef and milk production.