The End of the Heatwave?
Having come through the hottest June on record, a lot of farmers have already brought home a successful first cut of silage. Others among us, and particularly those who only need a single cut in the season, will surely be looking at the forecast with some trepidation. There is little indication, at any rate, that the remainder of the month will produce anything close to the sweltering conditions we experienced a few weeks ago.
A General Feeling of Optimism
That being said, ground remains in fairly good condition in many parts of the country thanks to last month's dry spell. This has led to a general feeling of optimism within the farming community about the prospects for a decent return from the meadows over the coming days and weeks. Whether you are aiming for a second cut or planning to mow for the first time this summer, we at Agridirect.ie believe that best practice is key to successful silage making. That is why we have put together the following guide to help you through the season. We hope you find it useful!
Tip 1
Analyse the growth stage of grass before cutting. The growth stage at which you mow grass has a massive impact on the quality of the silage produced. The key measure to take into account here is dry matter digestibility or DMD. Typically, grass achieves maximum DMD when seed heads begin to appear. If you require silage with a high DMD, you should harvest at this point in the cycle.
Tip 2
Nitrogen and sugars. Many farmers are concerned about Nitrogen in silage. As a rule of thumb, you should not apply nitrogen for at least 7 weeks before cutting. However, according to Teagasc advisors, nitrogen content should not be regarded as the key measurement. Where conditions for cutting are correct, it is a good idea to test for sugars. If the sugar content of the crop is high, it will ferment (ensile) easily. Ideally you should have a sugar content of over 3%.
Nitrogen and sugars. Many farmers are concerned about Nitrogen in silage. As a rule of thumb, you should not apply nitrogen for at least 7 weeks before cutting. However, according to Teagasc advisors, nitrogen content should not be regarded as the key measurement. Where conditions for cutting are correct, it is a good idea to test for sugars. If the sugar content of the crop is high, it will ferment (ensile) easily. Ideally you should have a sugar content of over 3%.
To increase the chances of a high sugar content in silage, you should mow in the evening time.
Tip 3
Allow grass to wilt. This is an essential part of correct silage making. Ideally you should "ted" grass for 24 hours, leaving it at approximately 25% dry matter. This is particularly important where sugar content is low. In cases where sugars are low, you may also need to apply an additive such as molasses. An agricultural adviser should always be consulted in such cases.
Tip 4
Practice good health and safety. One farm-related fatality is one too many, but there have been numerous tragic incidents on Irish farms since the start of the summer. It is important that we remember that farm machinery - and particularly tractors, mowers and balers - are extremely dangerous when treated casually. Ensure that tractors are fully lighted when driving at night, and make sure that fields are empty before starting to mow, ted, row or bale.
It is especially important that we keep children and inexperienced individuals away from working farm machinery. Remember that sixteen is the legal age at which anyone can drive a tractor, but not all sixteen-year-olds are equally capable or qualified to do so. Do not allow novice drivers to take tractors onto the roads or cut silage without adequate prior training.
Note: This article is indebted to information provided on the Teagasc website.
