Forage Wagons.

caleb

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
thames valley
No offence intended- just that there is a lot of good information/argument on here already. Anything specific you want to know?
We`ve got a chance of a Demo in the next few weeks, and just wondering if the extra hassle of sheeting and resheeting clamps between cuts outweighs the extra quality of cutting much younger grass. Just trying to use much less grain for fattening cattle. We cut mainly PP once atm.
 
We`ve got a chance of a Demo in the next few weeks, and just wondering if the extra hassle of sheeting and resheeting clamps between cuts outweighs the extra quality of cutting much younger grass. Just trying to use much less grain for fattening cattle. We cut mainly PP once atm.
If you look through I think silage2020 thread I think I posted the lengths we go to to seal our pits. In my opinion, the work of opening and shutting clamps is well worth it to be able to feed fodder of the quality we do in a multicut system. That would be possible with a forage harvester system as well but the flexibility of being able to cut on the day the grass is right rather than waiting for a contractor is invaluable. You also get to clamp it right which is half the battle.
 

puppet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
sw scotland
You should be having 2 cuts that far south and just need to spend time taking the sheet off. It's only once extra. It picks all the grass, chop is short enough for sucklers, best done before too stemmy.
Have you a big tractor as you need one so we use contractors.
We have done 6 years now and like it. Short hauls help and average around 3 loads/30 tons or 5 acres an hour which for a medium tractor and buckrake gives time for rolling. Sometimes had 2 wagons but
20180531_211322.jpg
need extra tractor for rolling then.
Main advantage is one phone call to the contractor instead of finding 4 tractors and trailers and all the extra diesel. Far less compaction in a wetter spell as only 1 machine. Disadvantage is you do not have 4 extra folk to sheet the pit. We make around 1000 + tons.
Plenty pictures on other threads.
 

caleb

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
thames valley
You should be having 2 cuts that far south and just need to spend time taking the sheet off. It's only once extra. It picks all the grass, chop is short enough for sucklers, best done before too stemmy.
Have you a big tractor as you need one so we use contractors.
We have done 6 years now and like it. Short hauls help and average around 3 loads/30 tons or 5 acres an hour which for a medium tractor and buckrake gives time for rolling. Sometimes had 2 wagons butView attachment 889875 need extra tractor for rolling then.
Main advantage is one phone call to the contractor instead of finding 4 tractors and trailers and all the extra diesel. Far less compaction in a wetter spell as only 1 machine. Disadvantage is you do not have 4 extra folk to sheet the pit. We make around 1000 + tons.
Plenty pictures on other threads.
160 hp tractor, is that enough ?.
 

AGN76

Member
Location
north Wales
I've just been watching next door contractor picking up with a forage Wagon. 20 acre field. Time wise how would this compare to a self propelled and 5 trailers?
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
We do one cut,awkward if crops go too heavy.

Suits us for now.

View attachment 890023

Are they not too keen on heavy and stemmy silage? Currently got a field that’s got away from us and it’s like chopping straw. If I had to keep the mengele for old grass then I don’t think I could justify having a wagon.
Drivers and old tractors are starting to become an issue for the trailed chopper.
 

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