5 Questions
What are some strategies farmers can use to optimize crop quality when cutting silage?
Cut the silage crop before seed heads appear or Lodging.
How can farmers optimize the wilting rate of the crop?
Spread out the crop across the field, aim to leave the crop to wilt for 24 hours (maximum), and increase dry matter by 4 to 5% in the first 6 hours of drying.
What is crucial to achieve when ensiling the crop?
Air-free conditions quickly.
How does rain impact a standing crop compared to a cut crop?
Rain impacts a standing crop more than a cut crop.
What are some tips for maintaining air-free conditions during ensiling?
Quick filling, compacting the grass well, covering and sealing the pit with new sheets, tires, and sandbags, maintaining clean drainage systems and effluent tanks.
Study Notes
- Farmers facing mixed May and June weather may choose to cut some or all of their silage crop to reduce the weather risk and optimize crop quality.
- Cutting the silage crop before seed heads appear or Lodging ensures better quality, as crop quality decreases once seed heads appear or crops start to Lodge.
- Research indicates that rain impacts a standing crop more than a cut crop, but a standing crop dries out faster than a cut crop.
- To optimize wilting rate, farmers can spread out the crop across the field, aim to leave the crop to wilt for 24 hours (maximum), and increase dry matter by 4 to 5% in the first 6 hours of drying.
- When ensiling, it is crucial to achieve air-free conditions quickly by ensuring quick filling, compacting the grass well, covering and sealing the pit with new sheets, tires, and sandbags, and maintaining clean drainage systems and effluent tanks.
Learn about strategies to optimize silage crop quality and reduce weather risks for farmers, including when to cut the crop, how to optimize wilting, and best practices for ensiling. Discover how different weather conditions can impact the silage crop and steps to take to ensure air-free conditions during ensiling.
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