Partner Insight: Why Using a Silage Additive on Maize Makes So Much Sense
Excess production of carbon dioxide in silage clamps is a sign that hard-earned silage feed value is being lost. But how could an additive help?
Partner Insight: Make bales of best quality, scientist says
Baled grass silage can be as good as clamped silage, says Volac silage scientist, Dr Mark Leggett, but it is essential to employ equal attention to detail when making it – starting by cutting grass at the optimum time.
Partner Insight: Take steps to minimise aftereffects of wet winter on silage, farmers urged
Heightened risks of soil and slurry contamination in first-cut grass silage after the wet winter, due to increased wheel ruts in fields and delayed slurry applications, will require extra vigilance with silage-making this season, an expert is urging.
Partner Insight: Forage quality underpins South African dairy farm's business resilience
Despite differences between dairy farming in South Africa’s Eastern Cape and the UK, the importance of conserved forage quality to business sustainability is unerringly familiar.
Partner Insight: Five lessons from 2023 that could help improve grass silage in 2024
With challenges in the dairy sector creating a strong case for maximising milk production from homegrown forage, UK dairy farmers are being urged to heed key lessons from 2023 silage making.
Partner Insight: Hidden cost of maize harvest mistakes
Good potential in this year’s maize crops looks set to give dairy farmers an opportunity to clamp decent tonnages of quality silage, which could provide a useful buffer with uncertain milk prices, says Volac silage expert, Ken Stroud.
Partner Insight: Five steps for better maize silage
Having good stocks of quality forage helps to improve farm resilience in times of volatile milk prices and unpredictability. Volac silage experts offer guidance.
Key silage lessons for 2023: What can farmers learn going forward?
Last season’s heatwave provided some big lessons for making grass silage. So what can farmers learn for the 2023 season?
High feed, fertiliser and fuel costs are driving UK dairy farmers to want to produce better silage in 2023. And those who made multi-cut grass silage during the droughted 2022 season tended to be better off.
Making the right decisions to improve business resilience is key and industry experts agree that producing the best quality silage possible is an important first step towards achieving this.
Íæż½ã½ã looking to make better silage in 2023 to reduce reliance on bought-in feeds should start planning now, urges Volac silage specialist, Ken Stroud, to allow time for appropriate actions. Based on experience, he offers a timely five-point plan.
The ‘to-do’ list for dairy farmers before first cut can be long, but key tasks must be prioritised to ensure high-quality silage. Volac's experts report.