Five new KWS maize varieties have joined the 2027 Maize Descriptive List, strengthening the company’s offer across maturity traits and market requirements.

Andrew Cook, KWS maize product manager, says the addition of KWS Giso, Katelego, KWS Marcopolo, KWS Pluvio and KWS Norento represents an important step forward for the maize portfolio.

He says: “These varieties give growers a really useful spread of maturity types, so there’s an option to suit different sites, harvest timings and end uses, whether that’s livestock forage, AD or grain.”

At the earlier end of the spectrum, KWS Giso records the highest dry matter content of the five new additions at 41.3%, alongside 17.2t/ha dry matter yield, 39.2% starch content and an ME of 11.66MJ/kg DM.

“KWS Giso is a particularly interesting addition where early maturity and harvest security are priorities,” says Mr Cook. “It’s been developed as a multi-use short-season hybrid with strong feeding quality and potential for early grain production, including crimping.

“Katelego then takes us into the mainstream sector and combines 19.0t/ha dry matter yield, equivalent to 105% of the four- and five-year varieties, with 35.6% starch and a starch yield of 6.77t/ha. Its ME yield is 222,000MJ/ha.

“This provides a fantastic combination of high quality and the ability to fill clamps.  

Both KWS Giso and Katalego are latest additions to the KWS EnergyBOOST varieties aimed at dairy producers who are focusing on higher yields per cow and higher milk yields per hectare.

“KWS Marcopolo adds another strong option, delivering 18.4t/ha dry matter yield, 102% relative yield and 34.6% starch content on the new list,” he says.

“We see KWS Marcopolo as a flexible forage variety particularly well suited to higher maize inclusion diets, while also offering potential for biogas production.

“That combination of output and starch makes it an attractive option where energy-dense forage is the objective.

“It also offers an excellent grain option with outstanding grain dry down characteristics and is a product of our early grain programme. The focus of this programme is to maintain grain yields, and increase grain dry down on the plant to reduce the associated drying costs, or alternatively allow an earlier grain harvest.”

Andrew adds that KWS Pluvio is at the later maturing end of the spectrum. “It is the highest dry matter yielding of the five additions at 19.4t/ha and 108% relative yield. It also delivers 31.5% starch content and 220,000MJ/ha ME yield. KWS Norento follows closely at 19.1t/ha and 106% relative dry matter yield.

“KWS Pluvio is aimed at growers able to exploit a longer growing season and is particularly suited to AD and high-maize-inclusion ruminant diets. Its wide harvest window should also help give growers useful flexibility around harvest.

“KWS Norento similarly brings high output to the later sector and has been selected for its combination of yield, quality and harvest flexibility, making it especially relevant for AD and high-maize-inclusion diets.

“Collectively, these five additions allow growers to be much more precise in matching maize maturity, yield potential, forage, and grain characteristics to the needs of their own farm.”