Top 12 Forage Tips

1. Prepare the fields: remove stones and get the surface as flat as possible to reduce the risk of equipment damage and the potential for picking up soil when cutting.
   
2. Select the right crop and variety to meet your objectives (i.e. yield, protein and energy levels) and to suit your location.
   
3. Make sure equipment, silos and bunkers are in good repair: downtime is costly and can seriously affect silage quality!
   
4. Avoid overusing fertilizer and make sure applications are timed correctly.
   
5. Harvest at optimum stage of growth.
   
6. Harvest at optimum plant moisture: too dry can cause heat and molds, too wet can cause clostridial spoilage.
   
7. Use optimum chop length (1/4” – 3/8”)
   
8. Use a proven inoculant with good independent data. Make sure it is packaged and handled correctly.
   
9. Fill the tower silo or bunker quickly, consolidate thoroughly, and pack every load properly (14 lbs / cubic foot).
   
10. Cover and seal the silage: KEEP AIR OUT!
    
11. Maintain appropriate feedout rate and keep surface smooth and tidy.
    
12. Balance the ration properly. Once produced, the quality of your silage is fixed; the rest of the ration can and should be adjusted to give you the best performance.