Technologies for wrapping, covering and storing corn silage and other forage crops continue to evolve, but efforts to limit the long-term effects of those technologies on the environment haven’t kept pace. But that hasn’t stopped environmentally conscious stakeholders in the sector from trying to do their part. Globally, an Israel-based leader in agriculture plastics is […] Read more
Tag Archives Silage — page 2
Recycling struggles to keep pace with increased plastic use for forages
Pilot recycling program and newly-available materials with post-consumer plastics could help reduce environmental footprint
Bunk silo cover decreases plastic use and dry matter loss
SiloStop limits oxygen flow to the forage with thinner film
Covering bunk silos has become common practice for livestock farmers, but results in a significant amount of plastic being sent to landfills. SiloStop, a 3.2 mil thick forage protection layer was recently brought to Canada. It only requires one layer and is an oxygen and ultraviolet light barrier. Why it matters: Feed bunks hold important […] Read more
DumpDek force feeds forage blower’s blast
The machine helps those using upright silos move forage faster with dump wagons
Glacier FarmMedia – Keeping expensive equipment running during peak season is vital in all types of farming operations, including hay harvest. A forage hauler sitting waiting for something to happen is not good. In a typical forage harvest, the forage-collecting tandem trucks and trailers are sometimes seen waiting to dump their load so it can […] Read more
Putting value on the effect of undigestible forage fibre
Using highly digestible fibre corn hybrids usually makes financial sense, says researcher
Dairy farmers who put digestibility at the top of their corn hybrid decision-making process should see more profit over those who look solely at yield. Mike Miller, a researcher at the W.H. Miner Institute in New York, says that a multi-year study that looked at the economics of emphasizing digestibility in hybrid decisions, shows that […] Read more
Case IH baler capable of silage, dry hay operation
New model designed to be an “all purpose” baler for producers
Glacier FarmMedia – The new RB565 Premium HD round baler is designed for the “ultimate crop flexibility,” says Case IH, which means it’s capable of being used to put up wet silage bales as well as dry hay and straw. “The RB565 Premium HD round baler is equipped with components to efficiently handle wet hay […] Read more
Finding alternative forage options to alfalfa
High alfalfa winterkill levels this spring led growers to consider other species to get enough feed
High winterkill in forage this spring meant farmers looked for other species to provide feed for livestock. OMAFRA forage and grazing specialist Christine O’Reilly and University of Guelph forage research technician Donna Hancock took the opportunity to review some different forage options at the FarmSmart Expo at the Elora Research Station in July. Why it […] Read more
Be on alert for nitrate levels in silages
Ontario Field Crop Report for the week of July 29
Nitrates in silage Fast-growing crops can accumulate nitrates under dry weather conditions. This is most common in corn, but sorghums, sudangrass, millets, cereals, and Italian ryegrass can all accumulate high levels of nitrates and potentially cause nitrate poisoning in livestock. Why are high nitrate levels a problem? Nitrates (NO3-N) are converted to nitrites (NO2-N) in […] Read more
Editorial: In praise of hay
The Ontario Forage Expo is one of my favourite farm events of the year. It’s outside, in the heat of the summer, it’s usually well attended and there’s lots of equipment to look at. Haybines, rakes, tedders, balers of all sorts and forage equipment are all working in the field at this event, which means […] Read more
Saskatchewan extends greenfeed seeding deadline
Saskatchewan farmers who still want to put in cereal crops for greenfeed with crop insurance coverage will get an extra couple of weeks to do so. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance on Wednesday announced an extension on the June 30 deadline for seeding crops for greenfeed, to July 15. Producers who have crop insurance will now be […] Read more
Silage baler a first for Massey Ferguson
The baler is especially made to handle the tougher conditions of silage bales
Massey Ferguson has announced its new RB Series Silage Baler, the company’s first ever silage-specific baler. AGCO and Massey Ferguson have designed the new RB Series Balers with a modern look, similar to European style balers with the rounded profile rather than a traditional square design. Another notable design feature that you’ll notice upfront is […] Read more
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