Farming silage bacteria for profit
So is farming bacteria a new way for farmers to develop a new market?
Eeeerrr no, that’s not what I was thinking. Farming bacteria is really what many farmers are already doing but without really thinking about it. Being better bacteria farmers is a way of controlling the costs of production
What makes grass silage protein so low?
over the past couple of years we have had some very cold, and often quite dry spring weather during the time when we would normally expect the grass to start growing. This can have some really important implications on not only the quantity but also the quality of the silage you produce.
Should a silage clamp have a roof?
the answer to the question “should your silage clamp have a roof” is - only if its raining! …... if you're going to be stuck with either a fibre cement roof or a clear view of the heavens - which one are you going to choose?
Silage dry matter analysis
The silage analysis report tells you how you did this summer, and what you are going to have to work on during the winter. And just like the school report…. and silage dry matter really does matter
Designing silage clamps for year round feeding
how do you design silage clamps for cows housed 365 days a year and is there any difference to a traditional winter fed clamp design?
High dry matter maize silage - harvest do’s and don’ts
To make the most of what is available, you need to plan the harvest very carefully. So what are the potential pitfalls for this years maize harvest? In summary it’s a list of do’s and don’ts, and in particular a list of don’ts!
Can I leave sheeting the clamp until the morning?
…at the end of a long day, is it really necessary to sheet up silage or will it be ok to leave it until the morning? If it’s not going to rain, it can’t come to much harm can it? Well….. …yes it does matter.
Can you make silage TOO fast?
….is all this haste really necessary to make good silage or would a bit less speed make better silage?
How to apply the right amount of silage additive
So you’ve done the technical bit and chosen the best silage additive….. but how are you actually going to apply it?
Time to change the mower blades?
keep a close eye on those mower blades if you are a silage contractor or a farmer because changing them might be a whole lot cheaper than you originally thought
Using Acetic Acid or Potassium Sorbate to aid stability in silage
silage additives have the choice of two different substances to fight aerobic moulds and yeasts, acetic acid and potassium sorbate
Benefits of longer chop lengths
Fashions come and go and longer chop length seems to becoming fashionable…... Are longer chop lengths bang on trend or barking up the wrong tree?
How to predict grass silage dry matter
we need to wilt the crop to hit the clamp dry matter target. What we are trying to do is calculate how long the crop needs to be on the ground before the chopper picks it up.
Forage Wagon vs Forage Harvester
when it comes to good silage, which is best, forage wagon or forage harvester?
How to predict silage clamp losses
Trying to predict what these losses might be and where they might be occurring
What is the ideal width for a silage clamp?
The chosen width of the clamp is super critical in design process. For any given storage size, the width of the clamp is the real dictator in the design layout.
Silage Clamps and Big Tractors
Back in the day a tractors all up weight was unlikely to come anywhere near to the clamp limits but today it’s extremely likely to overload the clamp walls.
What’s best to compact the clamp – big tractor tyres or train wheels?
Forage consolidation is critical to all good silage production but it’s especially critical for silage that’s more susceptible to aerobic instability – so silage with high dry matters and silage that’s going to be fed out during the summer months. Good consolidation isn’t just a result of the weight of the tractor driving on top of the clamp; it depends on what is actually in contact with the forage itself.
Protecting the silage clamp
It’s an unfortunate truth but silage and concrete are not really a compatible couple and don’t make happy bedfellows. It’s all because of the basic chemistry – silage is acidic and concrete is alkaline
Half full or half empty?
Poor establishment or untried varieties can produce yields that don’t live up to expectations. So if you’re faced with a taster sized portion of forage when you have clamp room for a banquette, what are your best options?