High Performance Regions.
Proven Performance.

Maize is a core part of farming systems across Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, where warm temperatures and long growing seasons support high dry matter production. Waikato is the largest maize-producing region in New Zealand, with maize widely used to support higher stocking rates and intensive dairy systems.

For most growers, maize is grown as a high-energy, locally produced silage feed, helping to extend lactation, bridge seasonal feed gaps and maintain animal performance when pasture growth is limited. It also plays an important role in managing pasture pressure and improving overall feed consistency.

In This Region, Hybrid Selection Is Typically Driven By:

  • Maximising dry matter yield in high-production systems
  • Achieving strong starch content for feed quality
  • Maintaining consistent harvest maturity across large areas
  • Ensuring standability through to harvest
  • Managing disease pressure in warm, humid conditions

Regional Hybrid Choices

PAC 344

Silage & Grain Maize Hybrid
CRM 102
PAC 344 maize hybrid

PAC 344 is a reliable mid to full season option for upper North Island systems, well suited to high-production dairy environments where consistency and plant health are critical. Its compact structure and strong disease package make it a dependable choice under humid conditions.

  • Mid to full season dual-purpose hybrid suited to Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty
  • Unique medium height, compact plant with thick stalks for strong standability
  • Broad leaf structure supporting dry matter production
  • Excellent tolerance to Northern Leaf Blight and ear-rot pressure
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PAC 432

Silage & Grain Maize Hybrid
Silage CRM 105 / Grain CRM 107
PAC 432 maize hybrid

PAC 432 is a strong all-round performer in warmer regions, offering resilience under stress while maintaining yield and plant health through to harvest. It is well suited to environments where late-season performance and disease management are key.

  • Very good drought and stress tolerance for variable summer conditions
  • Excellent stalk strength supporting standability through to harvest
  • Strong Northern Leaf Blight resistance for humid environments
  • Excellent staygreen and late-season plant health
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PAC 492

Silage & Grain Maize Hybrid
CRM 109
PAC 492 maize hybrid

PAC 492 is a robust, later maturity hybrid suited to growers targeting high yield and grain performance in long-season environments. It is particularly well suited to systems where grain quality and overall crop reliability are important.
 

  • Full season dual-purpose hybrid suited to warmer environments
  • Strong grain performer with flinty, food-grade grain
  • Strong agronomic package delivering reliable performance
  • Suited to both silage and grain systems in the upper North Island
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Maize Cob

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Regional Considerations

Hot humid conditions

Northland

Northland maize systems are shaped by high humidity, coastal wind exposure and the need to re-grass paddocks earlier in autumn. Hybrid choice needs to balance yield potential with strong plant health and standability under these conditions.

Key considerations include Northern Leaf Blight resistance, lodging tolerance and selecting a maturity (CRM) that allows your intended planting and harvest schedule as well as regrassing.

Dairy Farms

Waikato

Consistent silage yield and quality is critical in Waikato. Crops are often integrated into tight rotations, making reliable maturity and harvest timing essential to maintain feed supply and support pasture renewal.

Hybrid selection in the Waikato focuses on delivering consistent dry matter (DM) yield, maintaining silage quality, and reducing risk under variable seasonal conditions.

Key considerations include matching maturity (CRM) to rotation requirements, maintaining strong Northern Leaf Blight tolerance, managing drought risk in drier seasons, and ensuring consistent yield stability.

Coastal wind conditions

Bay of Plenty

Maize production in the Bay of Plenty is influenced by warm growing conditions, variable soil types and exposure to coastal winds in some areas. These factors make it important to match hybrid genetics to local conditions and management practices to optimise both yield and crop quality.

Hybrid selection should focus on maintaining consistent performance across these variable environments while ensuring crops remain structurally sound through to harvest.

Key considerations include high dry matter and grain yield potential, appropriate maturity selection, strong disease resistance (particularly Northern Leaf Blight), and good standability in wind-exposed areas.

Matching CRM and hybrid characteristics to your local climate and end use ensures consistent performance.

Regional Faqs

Waikato dairy farms typically benefit from high-yielding silage hybrids that provide excellent dry matter production, starch content and reliable performance year after year. Hybrids such as PAC 344, PAC 430, PAC 581 and PAC 624 are well suited to intensive dairy systems because they combine high silage yields with excellent standability, digestibility and late-season plant health. Farms requiring an earlier harvest for pasture renewal may also consider PAC 314 or PAC 144.
Northland's warm, humid climate creates favourable conditions for diseases such as Northern Leaf Blight (NLB). Selecting hybrids with strong disease resistance and good staygreen characteristics helps maintain green leaf area, maximise grain fill and protect silage quality. Hybrids including PAC 119, PAC 144, PAC 314, PAC 344 and PAC 432 all have strong NLB ratings and excellent late-season plant health.
Where paddocks are destined for autumn pasture renewal, selecting an earlier-maturing hybrid allows maize to be harvested sooner while still producing high-quality silage. Hybrids around 90–100 CRM, such as PAC 119, PAC 144 and PAC 298, provide an ideal balance between yield and timely harvest, giving growers more opportunity to establish pasture before soil temperatures decline.
High-performing dairy systems should prioritise hybrids that deliver exceptional dry matter yield, high starch content, excellent digestibility and strong standability. Staygreen, disease resistance and good stalk strength also help maximise harvest flexibility while ensuring crops remain standing until harvest. Hybrids such as PAC 344, PAC 430, PAC 564 and PAC 624 have been selected specifically for these characteristics.
Wind-exposed paddocks benefit from hybrids with excellent stalk strength, strong root systems and lower ear placement to reduce the risk of lodging. PAC 344, PAC 430 and PAC 564 all feature excellent standability, thick stalks and strong root strength, helping crops remain upright through challenging weather conditions. Maintaining appropriate plant populations also improves standability.
Yes. The upper North Island offers one of New Zealand's best environments for grain maize production thanks to its long growing season. Many Corson Maize hybrids are dual-purpose options, allowing growers to choose between grain or silage depending on seasonal conditions and market demand. Hybrids such as PAC 144, PAC 298, PAC 314, PAC 344, PAC 430 and PAC 492 consistently perform well for both grain and silage.
Most growers in Northland and Waikato achieve maximum yield potential using mid- to full-season hybrids (approximately 100–115 CRM). Hybrids including PAC 314 (101 CRM), PAC 344 (102 CRM), PAC 430 (108 CRM), PAC 581 (110 CRM), PAC 564 (113 CRM) and PAC 624 (115 CRM) are designed to fully utilise the region's long growing season. Earlier CRM hybrids remain valuable where early harvest or pasture renewal is required. CRM selection needs to be carefully examined to ensure you are planting the correct maturity for your growing environment.

Contact Us

For advice on silage maize systems in Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, or to discuss maize for grain options, contact your local Corson Maize Sales Agronomist to match the right hybrid to your farm system and production goals.

 

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