Harvest at Correct Moisture
Why?  Too dry…

• high porosity (oxygen penetration)
• reduced acid production
• reduced thermal mass (rapid heating)

Too wet…

• Clostridial fermentation (Butyric acid)
• Leachate discharge (nutrient losses)

What Moisture?  Alfalfa – 60-65%, Corn – 65-70%

Chop to Correct Particle Length
Why?  Shorter particles pack better and release more soluble carbohydrates
How?  Set knives to obtain ³/₈^th inch TLC for hay and unprocessed whole plant corn and ¹/₂ – ³/₄ inch TLC for processed whole plant corn.

Size Silo Properly
Why?  To remove silage at a high rate (keeps ahead of spoilage). To avoid safety problems (avalanche of overhang).
How?  Select face cross section to achieve 12″ per day removal based on volume removed each day. Stack silage so it is no higher than the unloading equipment can reach (no overhangs). Remove no less than 6″ per day.

Seal Silo Cracks and Holes
Why?  Limits oxygen penetration
How?  JetCrete, Epoxy, Grout, Plastic sheets

Harvest at High Enough Rate to Fill Silo in Three Days
Why?  While silos are open, forage is exposed to oxygen thus supporting microbial deterioration. Exposed forage is also susceptible to precipitation which can leach soluble carbohydrates.
How?  Size silos small and/or provide enough equipment and labor to harvest and transport forage quickly.

Pack Forage to a High Bulk Density
Why?  High bulk density has low porosity (limits rate of oxygen transmission through silage)
How?  Proper forage moisture (60-70%), Thin filling layers (<6 inches), Heavy Tractor(s), Pack continuously, Pack whole surface (keep packing slope shallow), Multiple packing tractors

Seal Forage Against Oxygen Penetration
Why?  Oxygen supports aerobic microbial decomposition of silage.
How?  Slope forage surface to drain runoff water away from silo wall, cover top surface with 6-8 mil plastic within 24 hrs of filling, weight plastic uniformly to prevent plastic billowing in wind, seal edges with soil or gravel filled bags. Manage vermin which can cause holes. Inspect plastic weekly, patching holes as found.

Maintain Tight, Smooth Feed Out Face
Why?  Ragged silage has larger surface area exposed to oxygen and fissures and cracks allow oxygen to penetrate deep into silage.
How?  Scrape silage at feed out face in a downward motion of the loader bucket or use a facer to remove forage.

Remove Only the Forage that will be Fed in One Feeding
Why?  Removed silage is low density which allows oxygen to penetrate deeply. Rapid heating can result.
How?  Pay attention to how much material needs to be removed.

Practice Safely
Why?  Injury and death are expensive! It can happen to you.
How?  

• Four wheel drive packing tractor
• Roll over protection on tractor and use seatbelt
• Experienced pack tractor driver
• Keep pedestrians (especially children) away from filling areas.
• Keep packing surfaces at 3:1 slope or shallower
• Don’t fill higher than unloader can reach (no overhangs)
• Face wall side of silo when covering and weighting (don’t back up to edge), consider guard rails at wall top.
• Use trailer dump while parked only on solid surfaces
• Avoid approaching the feed out face (avalanches are real)
• Avoid standing/walking on top of silo near the feed out face (avalanches are real)
• Don’t place forage on top of plastic cover when adding new feed (pull back the plastic first)

How much value can be saved by implementing good silage management practices?
The answer to this question depends on your current management practices. If you need to improve in some practices and can be viewed as doing a moderate job of management, some improvement in savings can be obtained. If on the other hand, large improvement in practices are needed, much greater savings are possible. To help address this issue, a spreadsheet (Determining Value of Improved Silage Management) is available on the Harvest and Storage page of the UW Extension Team Forage web site located at URL: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/files/2014/02/FeedLo-7-8-11.xls