Silage Management
The impact of corn silage on a dairy’s bottom line is a year-round priority. From field agronomics in the summer and packing at harvest to nutritional balancing and ROI analysis during the winter feeding months, silage management demands constant strategic adjustment. This collection of insights explores how to optimize forage performance, milk production and cow health.
Putting a value on corn silage, even when it never leaves the farm is also necessary. Gary Sipiorski says that most farms do not put any kind of a cost on planting corn for silage – and they really ought to.
Dairyland Labs has announced that it has begun adding analysis data for chloride by Near Infrared Spectroscopy to forage reports.
The recent historic high milk prices have been overshadowed by the feed costs that continue to climb. However, producer, Ryan Junio, owner of Four J Jerseys, number one concern is water scarcity facing California.
While corn silage harvest may feel like it is a ways away, research shows choppers may be hitting the fields 40-50 days after pollination.
Summer’s heat brings with it plenty of challenges for dairies. Among them: it’s a favorite time of the year for molds and mycotoxins.
Centered around, “A sustainable, profitable and enjoyable future in farming,” Lely invested $23 million to support its long-term vision. Recently it held a grand opening of its new state-of-the-art business complex.
The Neuenschwander brothers have thrived during a tough dairy economy because of their ability to maximize cow comfort and produce excellent genetics on their Indiana dairy.
Ongoing issues with grain moving to areas of the Southwest and West due to delays in rail service has California dairy producer Darlene Lopes frustrated. She worries that soon no corn will be available to feed her herd.
While feed costs have significantly increased year-over-year, leading dairy nutrition consultants says don’t shortchange feeding heifers, even if they are viewed as an expense for your dairy.
A more traditional approach to feeding ration elements separately could help address concerns related to overhead costs, labor shortages, and fuel usage.
The biggest conversation in 2022 for McCarty Family Farms, LLC has been centered around finding a balance of taking care of their cattle and land and avoiding any catastrophic mistakes.
Once farmers get to the field, they will have plenty of tractor time to think about all the challenges that face them. Reach out to your dairy team leaders to to maximize your dairy’s profit while you’re in the field.
Rising early to feed his cows is part of Wisconsin dairy farmer, Chris Pollack’s morning routine. He paused long enough from his routine to go on live network television to talk about issues that impact his dairy.
Like it or not, feed prices have dramatically risen year-over-year, and leading experts advise producers to gain some control over their feed costs.
The challenges that farmers face can be overwhelming. Factor in Mother Nature’s wild ways, and there is only so much a farmer can do. Texas dairy farmer, John Boer worries about the outlook of his corn.
Narrow profit margins mean there’s no room for error when it comes to planting corn silage seed this spring.
From the adaptation of technology to increasing efficiencies and overcoming challenges that seem to come at a fast pace, a producer must sharpen more than their pencils to continue in this tough dairy industry.
Just announced, a broad-based agricultural service cooperative specializing in laboratory testing, AgSource Cooperative Services, acquired Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. Agronomy Services Division in Stratford, Wisconsin.
You work too hard to pay for feed commodities to allow them to literally blow away.
JPMorgan voices concern that a spike in energy prices from the Russia-Ukraine crisis would hinder the economy. Dairy producers are wondering how much more inputs will rise, as a $20 plus milk check only goes so far.
USDA’s Milk Production report illustrated year-over-year declines in both January milk production and cow numbers. Although South Dakota hummed a different tune, leading year-over-year milk volume growth, up 18.3%.
Distinct drawbacks make BMR corn silage far from the all-encompassing silver bullet it was once hoped to be.
TMR consistency and composition are important to efficient and reliable nutrient delivery in lactating cow rations. But the impact of those factors actually can span much further.
Over time, the anaerobic environment created in a well-packed, well-sealed, inoculated silage crop allows the beauty of fermentation to flourish.
While 2022 offers a sigh of relief with higher milk prices, input costs are still considerably higher than the last time producers saw $20 plus prices. Experts emphasize understanding your costs to capitalize on margins.
Milk production is a risky business, even before COVID-19 hit. Bad weather can negatively impact forages, cows can get sick and breakdowns add up. Factor in a volatile milk market and it makes it difficult to plan.
Drought throughout most of the country, severe weather, and even flooding in parts of the Northeast made the annual adventure of corn silage production an interesting one.
Crafting effective lactating rations when the “ideal” ingredients are in short supply is challenging, but possible.
Krause Holsteins finished chopping corn silage a month earlier than normal. The results due to the extreme drought conditions in portions of the Midwest caused Krause’s corn silage to yield two thirds less than normal.
Transitioning new corn silage into the diet can impact milk production and cow health. The following are three tips to help make the transition a smooth one.