Storage Solutions

Hay moisture levels

How do you estimate hay moisture levels in the field? Veteran hay raisers have their own tricks which may involve twisting a handful or kicking the windrow to see if it “rattles.” ... Full story.

Storing large round bales

Research has shown that storage losses in large round bales stored outside and unprotected can be far greater than hay producers realize. ... Full story.

Ten spoilage stoppers

Use these steps to minimize or prevent surface-spoiled silage in bunker silos and drive-over piles. ... Full story.

Advice on wrapping dry hay

Will the labor and expense needed to get two or three layers of plastic around a large bale of dry hay pay off? Here are some points to consider. ... Full story.

Calculate your silage bag capacity

Use this spreadsheet to help you estimate the quantity of forage in a silage bag. ... Full story.

Updated silage capacity spreadsheet available

The "Silage Pile Capacity Calculator" now includes a Spanish translation and Metric conversions. ... Full story.

High feed prices: Ensile properly

A new video on the proper construction of a corn silage drive over pile has been released by Lallemand Animal Nutrition, the makers of Biotal Forage Inoculants. ... Full story.

High moisture corn and corn silage are different in summer than in the fall and winter

The high moisture corn and corn silage fed today was made nine or 10 months ago, and they are not the same feedstuffs as they were last winter, says Bill Weiss, Ohio State University dairy nutrition extension specialist. “If high moisture corn and corn silage are properly made and well-preserved, the concentrations of the major chemically-defined nutrients such as crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and starch probably changed very little during the last nine months of storage,” he says. ... Full story.

Should you cover your bunker silo?

Proper covering of bunker silos can provide an 8:1 return on investment. ... Full story.

Try these tips for high-quality, high-yielding silage

With today's high feed costs, silage management can have a significant impact on your bottom line. That's why you must pay attention to hybrid selection, field conditions and harvest timing/management to help make the most of your silage crops. ... Full story.

Better bunker management offers bottom-line advantages

Growing conditions determine fiber digestibility, and the right combination of weather conditions make for an optimum silage crop, say experts at Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. While temperatures and moisture levels over the course of the growing season will set the stage, you can actively take steps to preserve silage quality once the silage is harvested through good management, resulting in better feeding material for your livestock. ... Full story.

Beware of silo gas

Toxic gas associated with fermenting silage may cause severe injury or death to persons who are exposed to injurious concentrations. ... Full story.