Silage hygiene and why is important
The image of silage to non-farming folk is dominated by “that” smell. It’s an image that couldn’t be much further from the ideal of “clean”, so why are we concentrating on the hygiene side of silage making?
Silage Clamp Covers
Today every farmer understands the importance of keeping rainfall and air – or more importantly oxygen – out of the clamp. A black plastic sheet does a good job of this doesn’t it? Maybe not a good as you might think, for one, no polythene sheet is entirely impermeable to oxygen……
What’s the difference between Farm and AD silage clamps
a silage clamp is a silage clamp – isn’t it……. so what are the differences between the design of a silage clamp for and AD clamp and one for a livestock farmer?
Silage clamp overloading
…taking on more land or a really good growing season and you can start to run out of space very quickly…. as long as you have the headroom, you can just pile a bit more on top, and a bit more and a bit more – can’t you?
Do you need to sheet the walls of the silage clamp?
Anyone who has ever fitted side sheets to an empty silage clamp as the chopper is heading out to the fields will have wondered – is this really worth the effort?
Managing your silage contractor
more farmers and AD growers are contracting out the harvesting operations. The benefits are easy to see, someone else has to worry about all that expensive kit and find the drivers, plus you should benefit from a more timely operation. There are always two sides to every coin….. how do you get what you want from your silage contractor
Silage clamp concrete floor joints
As with all good design, there are few golden rules you need to follow, and in the case of silage clamps, perhaps unsurprisingly, there are some regulations….
Disc Mower or Mower Conditioner?
Most manufacturers offer the option of adding a conditioner to a plain disc mower, but these add weight to the tractor and the price tag - so what are the advantages of conditioners over straight mowers?
The Value of Silage Effluent
To most farmers silage effluent is … an unwelcome by product of the silage making process that can land you in a heap of trouble with your partner, your neighbours and the law in short order
Footpaths and Silage
Managing footpaths and rights of ways across your silage ground during the extreme conditions of spring 2020 has been a challenge to all but the most remote of farmers.
Effluent Tanks - what you need to know
– what do the silage effluent regulations mean? These rules give you the tools to calculate the size of tank you need and how it must be built. So let’s start with what size of tank…
Are silage additives worth the money?
Additives are expensive, somewhere close to £1 million per tonne, but the manufacturers and suppliers make some very bold claims for enhanced performance by using silage additives…..
Planning the maize harvest
So why would you be thinking about planning the harvest – surely that waits until the nights draw in and the crop is turning brown? Well it’s never too early to starting making a plan…..
Silage Clamp Drains
The current SSAFO regulations in the UK state that the clamp must have a catchment or containment drain around the outside of the walls….
Silage Clamp Consolidation
As forager output increases, ensuring good clamp consolidation using just the tyres of a tractor or shovel is getting more difficult. So…
Getting Silage Dry Matter Right
..for every ten trailer loads at the clamp, eight of them are just water and only two have any silage in them! – or do they?
Setting Silage Cutting Height
So the instructions might tell you exactly how to adjust the height of cut of a machine, but not the height it should be cutting. This begs the obvious question…….What is the correct height of cut for silage?
Pre-harvest Silage Clamp Health Checks
Some consider a pre harvest clamp check as nothing more than shifting stuff out of the way, turning it from machinery park to silage clamp in one afternoon. But there is quite a bit more to think about.
Are Back Walls Necessary?
So what are the implications of having access to both ends of the clamp; we don’t have to build a wall at the end so it must be cheaper right?
The Effect of Silage Chop Length
The length of chop has a huge impact on the quality of the silage you make. There are many benefits from chopping the material but that forager is a costly animal that has a mighty appetite for fuel – so what are we trying to achieve?