Maize a possibility for the North-East (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Maize a possibility for the North-East

11:12am Friday 20th February 2009

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THE North-East could became a major maize growing region by 2020 if climate change forecasts are accurate.

Richard Garland, rural practice surveyor with George F White, told the Great North meet in Newcastle that most farms in the region currently struggle to grow the crop successfully.

"But by 2020, the average farm in the region will be on the threshold temperature for successful maize production," he said.

"There is a real opportunity here for us to re-assess our agricultural systems and see how we can take them forward."

Rainfall patterns in the region could change but nothing like as severe as in the south-east of England and Europe.

Summers could be drier, which may make the harvest easier, and winters wetter which could have an impact on some farms.

A reliable water supply could become increasingly important for farms which have no mains supply.

He said that on an intensive dairy farm an individual cow can drink up to 140 litres of water a day - 5.1m litres a year for a 100 cow herd, costing around 4,600 a year.

"A reliable private water supply could become a valuable asset for many farms and perhaps extraction possibilities on arable farms," said Mr Garland.

Mains water supplies can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds depending how far a connection has to be made.

But on the whole Mr Garland believed the North-East is potentially well-placed to move to becoming " a bread basket."

Ends.

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