The Rural Voice, 1983-10, Page 34Silo Filling Tips
Once again the time to harvest corn
for silage is close at hand. For those
with conventional concrete tower
silos, here are some points to consider
ahead of that time.
1. If at all possible, clean out the silo
right down to the floor. If the bottom
of the silo wall has badly
deteriorated, have the necessary
repairs made. The use of a proper
coating on the lower portion of the
walls will help to protect the concrete
from further deterioration. Make
sure the drainage system at the bot-
tom of the silo is in good repair and
functioning properly.
2. Check over both the silage
distributor and the silo unloader,
making any necessary repairs and/or
adjustments. One important aspect of
the unloader often overlooked is the
condition of the suspension cable. If
it has been in use for a number of
years and/or shows any signs of
deterioration, it should be replaced.
3. If you have your own forage
harvester and associated equipment,
now is the time to make sure it is all in
good working condition. To get the
best quality silage, it is important to
be able to fill the silo as fast and con-
tinuously as possible. This means do-
ing everything possible to avoid
delays and breakdowns once harvest
has started. In this same connection,
make sure ahead of time that an ade-
quate supply of manpower and equip-
ment (wagons, tractors, etc.) will be
available during the time of harvest to
be able to realize the full capacity
potential of the equipment.
4. Don't get in too big a hurry to
start filling silo - wait until the corn
crop has matured enough to bring the
moisture content to a low enough
level that seepage will not occur when
the silo is filled. The proper moisture
content will vary depending on the
size of silo being used; whereas 70 per
cent may be permissible for a 12 x 35
silo, still a 24 x 80 will require
material close to 60 per cent moisture,
at least in the bottom portion of the
silo, to aN,oid seepage problems.
Seepage (free juice) should be avoid-
ed if at all possible because - a) this
material contains considerable food
value and b) seepage contains silage
acids which wreck havoc on concrete
silo walls.
5. If silage is not going to be fed out
of the silo for some time after
PG. 32 THE RURAL VOICE, OCTOBER 1983
FARM ADVICE
filling, level off the chopped material
immediately after the last load and
cover with a weighted sheet of plastic.
Similarly, if silage is to be fed from
the silo right after filling, set the
unloader into position immediately.
The reason for acting quickly in both
of these cases is to avoid any possible
exposure to silo gas which can be pre-
sent within a very few hours after fill-
ing is stopped.
6. Be aware of the silo gas problem.
Don't take chances. Learn all you can
about this potential killer and always
be on the defensive. Further informa-
tion about silo gas and how to live
with it is available from the Ontario
Farm Safety Association or any of-
fice of the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food.
H. E. Bel/man, P. Eng.
Agricultural Engineer
Fertilize your forage crop
Every year about this time I'm ask-
ed to do an article on forage crop fer-
tilization and every year I wonder if
I'm just beating my gums.
It's either "my barn is full of hay
and I don't want anymore", or "it's
too dry and I'm not going to bother",
or "I've just spent a bundle putting
my other crops in."
Yes I hear'em all, and then the first
day it looks like rain everybody calls
the same hour.
You know, hay is a funny crop.
You miss nitrogen on your corn or
phosphate on your grain and you sure
can see it. But if you don't fertilize
your alfalfa fields it's not obvious; it
still grows, the colour is still green
and you get your feed.
But what you don't see is crude
protein lost, lower digestible
nutrients, low plant P and K levels
and shortened stand persistence and
reduced winterhardiness.
Now I'm not going to twist your
arm and quote all kinds of facts and
studies to support the use of fertilizer
on forage crops. For all the hay and
pasture fertilizer tonnage there is out
there, it's not going to make or break
a fertilizer dealer if it's not sold.
However, that's not the point I'm
making.
I'd like us all to get a little more
serious with our forage crops. Over
the years I've worked up several real
good agronomic packages for alfalfa
and hay fields. Programs are based
on soil tests and tissue analysis, and
we know they work; the increased
yields and feed value will give you $2
for every $1 spent.
Because a hay crop is a totally
removed crop, a well-balanced fertili-
ty program must be adequate in ap-
plication.
The date on the calendar says now
is the time to feed your forage crop;
you'll need four good weeks after ap-
plication to build good root reserves
for winter dormancy.
I've got a forage program that's
right for your farm and whether
you've got 10 acres or 100 acres or
just want to try it on five acres, don't
be shy to ask. Our business is to help
you produce more and that's what
we're here for. L1
Mervyn Erh. Agrico