Multi cut Forage wagon or Precision chop?

[Jack321]

Hi All
Currently taking 3 cuts of silage over 300 acres. However I think for next year we're going to have a go at multi cut, cutting every 4 - 5 weeks to get more milk from grass and hopefully cut back on cake a bit.

Has anyone tried this with a forage wagon and it paid off better than precision chop? Or is it a false economy?

Also how many forage wagons to harvest 300 acre in one and a half days which we currently do with one big forager?

All raking and chopping is hired in, everything else done in house.

NW England.

Thanks in advance.

 

[davidroberts30]

2x 35cube wagons with minimum 200hp on front
Cut every 4 weeks

 

[Horn&corn]

Forage wagon type material can handle a wetter grass so you don’t need quite as long a wilt. Handling it on the clamp is the main challenge

 

[Blue.]

It’s where a forage wagon excels,getting the weather in the north west is the hard bit.

 

[davidroberts30]

distance will kill output
everything needs to be max 1.5 mile

 

[Cowwilf]

Is your 300 acres of cutting ground in a ring fence of the yard or 10 miles away?

 

[Jack321]

Is your 300 acres of cutting ground in a ring fence of the yard or 10 miles away?

Ring fence

 

[yin ewe]

Ring fence

Should be easily achievable to lift in a day and a half with 2 big wagons. I did 45 acres of 3rd cut from 10am to 10pm with our small wagon closest draw was half a mile away and 15 acre was 4 mile round trip. Light crops are a doddle with a wagon.

 

[surprisefarmer]

Should be easily achievable to lift in a day and a half with 2 big wagons. I did 45 acres of 3rd cut from 10am to 10pm with our small wagon closest draw was half a mile away and 15 acre was 4 mile round trip. Light crops are a doddle with a wagon.

What is your chop length like, similar to a round bale? What brand of wagon do you have, was thinking about a Pottinger in the near future. My pit grass is a mile away from the yard, cutting every 4-5 weeks, fed up throwing money at contractors.

 

[yin ewe]

What is your chop length like, similar to a round bale? What brand of wagon do you have, was thinking about a Pottinger in the near future. My pit grass is a mile away from the yard, cutting every 4-5 weeks, fed up throwing money at contractors.

Probably in between a round bale and precision chop length (32 knives). Ours is a Pottinger 3510 which is the smallest in the range I think, holds about 9 ton of fresh grass.

 

[surprisefarmer]

Probably in between a round bale and precision chop length (32 knives). Ours is a Pottinger 3510 which is the smallest in the range I think, holds about 9 ton of fresh grass.

I suppose at that size, it can float over the ground ok, better than a silage trailer?

 

[yin ewe]

I suppose at that size, it can float over the ground ok, better than a silage trailer?

Not had a problem yet but if the weather is bad I'll lift wet bits while empty and fill out on the drier bits, or even bring a half load, try getting the chopper crew to do that..........

 

[Jack321]

2x 35cube wagons with minimum 200hp on front
Cut every 4 weeks

It’s where a forage wagon excels,getting the weather in the north west is the hard bit.

I agree the weather is my main concern haha!

 

[Jack321]

2x 35cube wagons with minimum 200hp on front
Cut every 4 weeks

Great thanks! How much slurry and Nitrogen are you putting on inbetween cuts?

 

[Bald Rick]

Know where you can get a Fendt 65 2019 wagon

 

[Farmer Keith]

What is your chop length like, similar to a round bale? What brand of wagon do you have, was thinking about a Pottinger in the near future. My pit grass is a mile away from the yard, cutting every 4-5 weeks, fed up throwing money at contractors.

I’m not sure we could even get close to doing it ourselves for what the contractors charge. Gears just far too expensive the money is better off invested elsewhere.

 

[Martyn]

Know where you can get a Fendt 65 2019 wagon

Plenty of those been used and moved on down here, everyone I can think of has straughtmans now.

 

[Rob Holmes]

Cutting early is always better with wagon.
Can do 100 acres/12hr day with a medium size (45 m³) box and 200 hp, close to farm, and it chops nearly like a precision chop

 

[Bald Rick]

Plenty of those been used and moved on down here, everyone I can think of has straughtmans now.

It’s residing in the SW … end of our experiment of zero grazing

 

[Bald Rick]

Cutting early is always better with wagon.

That’s what the Dutch do. Little and often with drive through clamps

Dry/drought weather knackers the job. Are you feeling lucky, punk?