2019 Silage Season

[pappuller]

The fields that were ready did about 9 tonne an acre maybe a little more. The ones that weren’t ready were closer to 7 tonne an acre but they have a high inclusion of clover so we normally see incredible compensating growth for the following cut.

I would tend to agree that 10 days would probably be safe enough had the this weather been marked to continue or some rain then more good weather I may well have held off a bit. This has been a very exceptional year with winter growth though

You truly do live in the land of milk and honey with yields of that in mid April, hoping for a similar sized pile in three weeks but I'll have to cut toward 100 acres

 

[Headless chicken]

You truly do live in the land of milk and honey with yields of that in mid April, hoping for a similar sized pile in three weeks but I'll have to cut toward 100 acres

It’s just been an exceptionally kind winter and I’ve spent a lot of money on reseeding last year. Couple that with good sheep management and early application of n and slurry has just made for excellent conditions

 

[More to life]

It’s just been an exceptionally kind winter and I’ve spent a lot of money on reseeding last year. Couple that with good sheep management and early application of n and slurry has just made for excellent conditions

How many acres did you cut ?

 

[Bald Rick]

Why would you not cut now in excellent weather? We live in a maritime climate where I, for one, don't believe any forecast greater than 24 hours and even those make me sceptical

Having said that, we've parked up and given the men a breather and are going to concentrate on other stuff like maize drilling and liming

 

[d williams]

The fields that were ready did about 9 tonne an acre maybe a little more. The ones that weren’t ready were closer to 7 tonne an acre but they have a high inclusion of clover so we normally see incredible compensating growth for the following cut.

I would tend to agree that 10 days would probably be safe enough had the this weather been marked to continue or some rain then more good weather I may well have held off a bit. This has been a very exceptional year with winter growth though

I was on a field yesterday with a krone forager that has a yield monitor that was reading 18 ton ha and the swath was a lot more then in your picture

 

[Headless chicken]

How many acres did you cut ?

I haven’t even done the maths over 100 is all I know

 

[Headless chicken]

I was on a field yesterday with a krone forager that has a yield monitor that was reading 18 ton ha and the swath was a lot more then in your picture

More than happy to believe that my estimations were out. All that matters is I’m happy with the return on the inputs

 

[jimmer]

I had between 5 and 6 tonnes to the acre,
After 90 units on valentines day
Sticking to the tyres so must be some sugar about

 

[TomB]

Turned some calves out last week after tb testing, loving the weather.

Still a week or two off silage here, but starting to come together. Not quite quad bike height yet!

 

[Shebb90]

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First cut all finished with

With pit like that I hope you haven't got to much to feed

 

[ollie989898]

I was on a field yesterday with a krone forager that has a yield monitor that was reading 18 ton ha and the swath was a lot more then in your picture

I've seen a Claas forager in grass that was doing 18 tonnes/acre before, on a customers farm. I couldn't believe it.

 

[Blue.]

Finished getting fert on today,can I class it as 2nd cut because the sheep ate the 1st?

The more that clamp now the better,it spreads the season and helps workload.

Im aiming for late May cutting,it can rain for a month now.

 

[d williams]

I've seen a Claas forager in grass that was doing 18 tonnes/acre before, on a customers farm. I couldn't believe it.

This was 18 ton a ha
That’s a lot of grass 18ton /ac

 

[vantage]

Decided to mow a bit for bales. Decent crop in 2/3 of the field.

 

[Headless chicken]

With pit like that I hope you haven't got to much to feed

Assume you mean you think it’s not a lot there? We will be milking 220-250 this winter

 

[Bald Rick]

With pit like that I hope you haven't got to much to feed

Bit of an odd comment. Headless may take 5-6 cuts of quality. Ramming a pit full of average silage if you miss a weather window isn’t that great

 

[The Agrarian]

I recall cutting a couple of times in the last days of april, during the last ten years. Was a tricky decision at the time. Harder than this year given the early growth, and we had never cut in April before. But I can remember one of those times in particular it certainly turned out to be the right decision. The forecast was given to break. We went ahead, and when the rain came, it didn't stop for three weeks after.

I also remember making the wrong decision one year, to cut early. Twas a backward year. Forecast gave a good week, followed by the weather breaking. Felt sure it was the right thing to do, as we had enough grass. Probably end of first week of May. But as it turned out, the high pressure extended for another whole week after we had finished. We were too early to get all the heads, whereas others that went the next week got them. That became a problem for second cut. Early June was unsettled, clammy, growthy, thundery and very wet. Couldn't cut a blade until 16th, by which time the heads were on stems two foot long.

 

[Shebb90]

Bit of an odd comment. Headless may take 5-6 cuts of quality. Ramming a pit full of average silage if you miss a weather window isn’t that great

I have a neighbour who had gone down this cutting 5 times job since then he been struggling to make enough feed. My first cut last year was 11.4 me I AVE milk yield was 31.5 litres through the winter that was 10 of may. I think it's fine to do if you can cut big acres. But if it turn dry you can struggle to make enough. Each to there own I guess.

 

[Beef farmer]

Had a good look at silage ground today, in the base you can still see the carrier that they coat the N in. Spread 12th march 90 units. Been very dry since, if we get this 40mm of rain they talk off, are we gonna find the grass taking a load of N again? Or is the carrier no sign of any N left just a carrier?

 

[The Agrarian]

I had diffs with high nitrogen in third cut last year due to rain after the dry. It absolutely stinks.