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Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Bill Ratclife (14th Nov 2009 - 17:25:37) Last year all of the fields between the A3 and Liphook (behind Longmoor Road and the Avenue) were planted with maize and were harvested. This year the same crop was planted but is still standing in the fields and is begining to rot away. Can anyone explain why this beautiful crop has not been harvested?

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Editor (14th Nov 2009 - 17:51:00) Hi Bill I've been wondering exactly the same thing. Alan

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Mike Grimes (14th Nov 2009 - 21:02:32) Could it be our wonderful EU weaving it's magic again?

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Farmer Jon (17th Nov 2009 - 21:22:31) Hi, The fields will be harvested in the next couple of days. A combine with a specialised header will thrash the grains from the cobs. It is similar to harvesting wheat only with bigger plants!

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Bill Ratcliffe (18th Nov 2009 - 17:48:08) Thank you Farmer John. It just seems so late this year. For what will the crop be used?

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Farmer Jon (19th Nov 2009 - 19:10:35) Bill, Normally when maize is grown the whole plant is harvested and used as a winter forage for cattle. However, it is possible to harvest just the grain, dry it and then use it as a concentrated form of feed. This has become more economically viable in recent years. If you ever spot the phrase 'modified maize' on any food product ingredient list ( you will find it on many!), it refers to genetically modified maize grains. This would be an imported product. Popcorn and sweetcorn are very similar to the forage/grain maize which we see growing in this country. I hope that answers your question!

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Editor (19th Nov 2009 - 19:26:12) Many thanks for your replies Farmer Jon. I have found some more information here, for us 'non-farmers' - www.ukagriculture.com/crops/... Alan

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Eneida (19th Nov 2009 - 23:00:33) When I was a little girl I used to love making popcorn!!! It was like magic putting the dried up corn in the pan with hot oil and then hearing all the popping noises as it exploded....and woebetide if you lifted the lid too soon.... I haven't done it for years....can you still buy popping corn and do children still make it, or is it against health and safety??

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Neil (20th Nov 2009 - 09:34:29) We still buy it form time to time if we are watching a family movie, kids love making it. Go and buy some this weekend :-)

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - barbara easton (20th Nov 2009 - 12:53:03) Dear Enieda, I can get you some organic popping corn at a wholesale price, the cheapest way is in a 5kG sack or a 25k sack. I buy the 5kg sack and it is about 8.00 give or take, and lasts for ever, as you only put a handful in the pan.

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Bill Ratcliffe (20th Nov 2009 - 16:47:36) Hi The maize is now being harvested.Glad the crop is not wasted. On the popcorn issue one can buy flat bags of uncooked pop corn at Waitrose. You pop them into the micro wave unopened, and in a few minutes a puffy bag of hot pop corn is made. Popping maize in a frying pan sounds much more fun, like cooking chestnuts on a shovel held over the fire. Happy Days.

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - Eneida (20th Nov 2009 - 16:48:09) Hi Barbara, My mind has never been converted to EU measurements, so I had to look this up and 5 Kgs = 11.0231131 lbs !!!! Gosh, I don't think I'll live long enough to eat that amount of popcorn...I'd have to leave it to somebody in my will :D I'll see if Sainsburys sell a small pot....but it was very sweet of you to offer :) Eneida xx

Re: Standing maize fields between A3 and Liphook - karen f (20th Nov 2009 - 17:25:13) Sainsburys do sell bags of unpopped popcorn! We love a movies and munchies evening where I stand over the pan and do about five times too much popcorn and the lid of the pan is lifted by the growing mass which then spills out over the cooker! Have never quite worked out when to add the sugar, syrup or whatever to make it sweet - usually sprinkle sugar over the top but guess there is a way to make it 'cinema style'

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