Large Baler Research and Storage Ideas by Ronald T. Schuler, Extension Agricultural Engineer Many alfalfa producers look to harvest their alfalfa as intermediate (about 30 inches × 30 inches × 5 feet) square bales. This is an excellent method for handling dry alfalfa hay especially if it is going to be marketed. Because the intermediate square bales are denser […]
Read More...
Equipment to Rake and Merge Hay and Forage K.J. Shinners and R.T. Schuler Today, hay and forage producers have a wide variety of equipment options for raking and merging swaths or windrows. Selecting the proper equipment and operating it correctly will help to ensure high quality forage and a cost effective harvesting system. Several studies […]
Read More...
New Extension Mobile App for Pricing Standing Corn Silage Find free app download below! Waupaca, Wis. – The start of corn silage harvest for 2016 is just around the corner. Most corn silage is harvested from late August through early November, when energy, fiber and moisture are at their best, depending on planting date, hybrid […]
Read More...
FULL REPORT previous HAY MARKET REPORTS
Read More...
Silage Preservation: First Things First by Brian J. Holmes bjholmes@wisc.edu Harvest at Correct Stage of Maturity Why? High levels of readily available carbohydrate are needed to ferment into acids. What Stage? Alfalfa – early to mid bloom, Corn – 1/3 – 1⁄2 half milk line Harvest at Correct Moisture Why? Too dry… high porosity (oxygen penetration) reduced acid production […]
Read More...
Adding Enzymes to Silage by Patrick Hoffman and Richard Muck Introduction Enzyme addition to silages has received considerable attention over the past decade. Their primary function is to break down forage fiber during fermentation, rendering the silage more digestible during feedout. The breakdown of fiber into soluble sugars also helps bacteria produce lactic acid, which helps […]
Read More...
Anhydrous Ammonia for Legume-Grass Silage by Randy Shaver Introduction Anhydrous ammonia has long been added to corn silage to increase nitrogen content and improve its aerobic stability. Some recent popular-press articles made mention of farmers that either use or have used this additive on legume-grass silage. This article will address the potential benefits or risks associated […]
Read More...
Lactobacillus buchneri for Silage Aerobic Stability by David K. Combs and Patrick C. Hoffman Department of Dairy Science University of Wisconsin-Madison Introduction Lactobacillus buchneri is a bacterial inoculant approved for use in grass silages, corn silage, legume silage and high moisture grains. Lactobacillus buchneri has been demonstrated to improve aerobic stability of silages by reducing the growth […]
Read More...
Microbial Inoculants for Silage by Francisco Contreras-Govea and Richard Muck Introduction Ensiling is an important means to preserve forage quality. Although silage fermentation occurs naturally under anaerobic conditions due to the native bacteria on plants, the speed and efficiency of the fermentation (pH drop) is variable, depending on the numbers and types of lactic acid bacteria […]
Read More...
