Silage clamp covers

[Princess Pooper]

Looking at investing in the heavy duty silage clamp covers, time we moved away from humping tyres and not sure contractors will be too happy to do it this year with social distancing etc. How has anyone got on with the various brands, secure covers, galebreaker etc?

 

[sjt01]

We use cleaning chemical 20 litre drums half full of water to hold the sheet down. When we had wrapped bales we used some of these as well, but now moving to all clamp silage.

 

[Princess Pooper]

We use cleaning chemical 20 litre drums half full of water to hold the sheet down. When we had wrapped bales we used some of these as well, but now moving to all clamp silage.

Thanks, think we would struggle with that as when full, our earth bank clamp is very humped clamp that slopes in 2 directions to hard to prevent rolling of drums!

 

[HarryB97]

The galebreaker covers are fantastic we have 5 of them. Despite being thick and completley bird proof they are easy to drag around on your own and have a 10 year guarantee. We use sandbags from galebreaker on all our bale stacks but on a clamp those rubber tiles or lorry sidewalls look like a much better job.

 

[Great In Grass]

The Leaders in Silage Storage - ARK Agriculture

EXPERTISE We provide expert advice in all aspects of silage storage from silage clamps to silage sheets. INNOVATION Unique, industry leading products help our customers produce high quality silage. SUSTAINABILITY All of our silage plastics and netting are fully recyclable.

www.arkagriculture.com

 

[upnortheast]

Galebreaker type is good. but not on their own. Still need plenty of sandbag / tyres on to do a proper job

 

[Happy hillbily]

Looking at investing in the heavy duty silage clamp covers, time we moved away from humping tyres and not sure contractors will be too happy to do it this year with social distancing etc. How has anyone got on with the various brands, secure covers, galebreaker etc?

The contractors help you ?
Mine bugger off as soon as the last load is in the pit

 

[Tarw Coch]

We have been using secure ciovers for about 8 years now although we still use tyres to hold them down, a double row around the outside with a row down the middle and across all joints.
The move to secure covers coincided with the use of cling film and has always given good results, previously we used to double sheet, last years sheet over top of new sheet to protect the new sheet.
One of the reasons I think the secure covers work well is that they protect the sheet from feet trampling all over it when tyring up

 

[Jamer]

Secure covers and side walls. Covers on their own not enough weight. Got 2 Gale breaker covers, not as good as Secure covers; too slippery and won't roll up very well.

 

[davidroberts30]

dont be fooled into thinking the nets do away with the need for tyres
you still need a decent amount of tyres on top

i just put a double row around all edges and any joins, until the next cut (multi cut system) then when final grass is in will cover with probably 2/3rds of the amount of tyres that would use without nets

 

[Tarw Coch]

The contractors help you ?
Mine bugger off as soon as the last load is in the pit

It’s a thankless task on your own and many hands make light work .
It was actually one of the main reasons for me buying the secure covers, I appreciate the fact that the contractors stay to help sheet up but also realise that not only is it not the most pleasant job but also that they may need to move on as quickly as possible so anything that made the job quicker and easier had to be worthwhile, I’m sure it’s best to be on the right side of contractors and staff.

The other benefit I find is that not only are there not as many tyres to shift in the winter but as there aren’t the number of tyres up there I can push the sheets back quite a bit with the shear bucket without having to go up on the pit so often.

 

[Tarw Coch]

dont be fooled into thinking the nets do away with the need for tyres
you still need a decent amount of tyres on top

i just put a double row around all edges and any joins, until the next cut (multi cut system) then when final grass is in will cover with probably 2/3rds of the amount of tyres that would use without nets

How many tyres would you use without nets?
We allways used to have tyres touching, but from my times working for a contractor I’ve seen farmers with very different attitudes to how many tyres are needed as well as how much wastage they’d consider normal/acceptable

 

[Bald Rick]

Tyre sidewalls on to of green sheets which are over cling film & Black plastic

Only problem is that you have to buy by the lorry load (circa 2000 sidewalls) so you might want to share with a neighbour?

Heavy Covers for Silage Clamps. Lorry Tyre Sidewalls. FAQ

www.rwn.org.uk

 

[Princess Pooper]

The contractors help you ?
Mine bugger off as soon as the last load is in the pit ☹

no help, no payment. We have no teleporter or suitable machine to get the tyres to the back of the clamp. Never been an issue with the various outfits we have used over the years. 7-8 young lads do it a darn sight quicker than 2 creaky old fogies.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Galebreaker type is good. but not on their own. Still need plenty of sandbag / tyres on to do a proper job

Thanks, yeah, realise that, galebreaker supply the bags for free (I realise we need to fill them) or we are happy to chuck some tyres around, just nothing like the number we do at present (and all have to be taken off and put on again for 2nd cut!)

 

[Tarw Coch]

Thanks, yeah, realise that, galebreaker supply the bags for free (I realise we need to fill them) or we are happy to chuck some tyres around, just nothing like the number we do at present (and all have to be taken off and put on again for 2nd cut!)

Secure covers you had to buy the gravel bags when I bought mine which is why I stuck with tyres and I see no reason to change, you already have them, just less to handle and less to dispose of.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Side walls are very very easy to use and don't hold any water. Can stack them in a row and slip on pallet fork easy. Those gravel bags are ok but need stacking on a pallet gently.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Have quite a lot of tyre side walls here, surplus from when we used to grow maize, would consider selling . PM me if you are interested .

 

[davidroberts30]

How many tyres would you use without nets?
We allways used to have tyres touching, but from my times working for a contractor I’ve seen farmers with very different attitudes to how many tyres are needed as well as how much wastage they’d consider normal/acceptable

Without nets= tyres touching like i said between cuts I'm not that fussy as it gets open in 4 to 5 weeks but once it's full...
Tbh its possible to have virtually no waste but like you say each to their own

 

[yellow belly]

20 litre drums tied on a rope in rows across the clamp may work