Deciding on a Silage Storage Type Brian J. Holmes Biological Systems Engineering Dept. UW - Madison Craig Saxe Extension Agent Juneau County UW Extension.

Deciding on a Silage

Storage Type

Brian J. Holmes

Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

UW - Madison

Craig SaxeExtension Agent Juneau County UW Extension

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

This interactive presentation lets you respond to questions which then lead you to possible silage storage types to select.

Just mouse click on your response to advance within the presentation.

The buttons below have the same meaning throughout this presentation.

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Start this presentation?Click Yes to Start

Yes No


In next 10 years, will forage storage needs on your farm double?

Yes No


Now Future

Are your current silage needs less than 400 tons dry

matter/yr?


Yes No

Note: 400T DM/yr feeds about 90 cows/day at 25 lbs DM/cow/day.

Is space at your feed center limiting?

Yes No


Barn

Shed

Sh

ed

Feed

Cen

ter

Yard

Example of feed center with limited space

Is capital limiting?

Yes No


$ $vs

Consider: Silage Piles or Bags

Will silage piles be covered with plastic?

Yes No


Well Covered Pile

Is a third operator available to pack silage piles?

Yes No


Your Solution:Consider: Silage Piles


Needs ShallowerSide Slope

Needs MoreTires

Yes No


Will you harvest corn with your own forage harvester?Answer No if you will not harvest corn silage or you will have corn

harvested by a custom operator or neighbor etc.

Harvest labor is extremely limiting on my farm.


Yes No

It is just me and

my brother here.

Will baling equipment be used for products besides silage baling?


Yes No

Your Solution:

Consider: Wrapped Bale Silage


Your Solution:

Consider: Wrapped Bale Silage or Silo Bags


Your Solution:Consider: Silo Bags


Do you use tower silos on your farm?

Yes No


My tower silos are less than 10 years old or are in good

shape?

Yes No


Will you continue hand feeding in the barn and/or continue using a mechanical bunk?

Yes No


Your Solution:Consider: Tower Silos


Is it convenient to deliver feed to a mobile TMR mixer?

Yes No


Do you have adequate room for a stationary TMR mixer?

Yes No


Part of Your Solution Is:

Abandon Tower Silos

Continue?

Yes No


Is there adequate space near tower silos to store silo bags?

Yes No


Space for BagsAfter Demolition

Space for Bags

Your Solution:

Use Bags and Existing Tower Silos in a Feed Center Design


Will bunker silos be covered?

Yes No


Is a third operator available to pack bunker silos?

Yes No


Your Solution:

Consider: Bunker Silos


Your Solution:

Consider: Tower Silos or Silo Bags


You have used information about your operation to select and/or narrow your choices for a silage storage system. Consider the cost and management of the selected system before deciding on your best option.

For more information on silage storage, access the Harvest and Storage web site at:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/storage.htm


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Deciding on a Silage Storage Type Brian J. Holmes Biological Systems Engineering Dept. UW - Madison Craig Saxe Extension Agent Juneau County UW Extension.

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