The prolonged spell of wet weather many farmers have experienced recently has led to significant delays for many looking to take silage cuts. Mr Cox’s advice is not to panic, but maintain regular contact with your contractor and look for a suitable window of opportunity.

“Assess the standing crop,” advises Mr Cox. “If there is a lot of dead material in the base of the sward, raise the mowing height slightly. This will avoid harvesting dead and sometimes mould-infested material, and will also help reduce soil contamination which can be problematic in wet conditions. Watch the chop length too, as low DM material needs to be slightly longer than grass cut in the dry. Avoid over-rolling the clamp too.”

Farmers baling silage from late harvested crops should be aware of the extra stemminess of the grass as film punctures will be more likely. Ensuring the net wrap reaches the edge of the bale and increasing the number of layers of film-wrap from four to six and can reduce the chance of puncturing and subsequent wastage.

“Silage additives really come into their own when conditions at harvest are poor,” explains Mr Cox. “Choosing the right additive will give a fast and efficient fermentation, help maximise nutrient retention and give good control moulds and aerobic spoilage. Getting it right now will reduce wastage once the clamp is opened up. Look for an additive containing the right balance of bacteria and enzymes, and make sure you order sufficient product to cope with the extra bulk likely from delayed cutting.”

Thank you all for your support!

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