When is too late for silage cut?
- Thread starter Magik22
- Start date
michael N123
Member
I’ve cut grass in November in Cumbria before
mar
Member
- Location
- Ulster (Rep of Irl)
You could cut it any time of the year, it's the ground conditions that will determine when you can cut
- Location
- 200 miles N,NW of New York
michael N123
Member
It was at lazonby actually I’d look mental getting the mower out at my spot in NovemberThat's usually the only dry week where you are
davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
1995 we did 2nd cut mowed 4th December harvested on 6th
It was OK far better than snowballs
Looking that way this year too
It was OK far better than snowballs
Looking that way this year too
Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
It depends on the weather and ground conditions but I don’t like it into October as it’s normally slop
- Location
- 200 miles N,NW of New York
Aye, and at KO there was some really nice straw baled in March for Todd's of highbank, by there tractor man Steve Kirk,It was at lazonby actually I’d look mental getting the mower out at my spot in November
Be a bit before your time that
Cowabunga
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion,Wales
Not too late to shut fields up for silage yet. In fact I can’t see me stopping grazing fields for at least another week. So silage eight weeks from now with a bit of luck. That will be in the second week of October, weather permitting. Late and borderline risky but beggars can’t be choosers. I’m 25% short of minimum winter forage so far.
Speedstar
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders
do Todd's still farm that place now ?
- Location
- Ceredigion
I'm not sure if I should post this ,but pits all full so not going to bother with the last cut this year
- Location
- 200 miles N,NW of New York
Oh no, Todd's gave over mid to late 80s I would say,
I’ve seen dairy farmers take big bales instead of tack sheep practically year round.
DeeGee
Member
- Location
- North East Wales
Can get good stuff in early November if conditions are right.
As with most farming subjects, the calendar is only a guide.
Ground conditions, ambient weather, local knowledge and experience are worth far more than calendar dates.
As with most farming subjects, the calendar is only a guide.
Ground conditions, ambient weather, local knowledge and experience are worth far more than calendar dates.
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Chopped grass in Cheshire in December once, ground was dry, grass wasn't as wet as you'd think.
No idea how it turned out, I do remember it started snowing after we'd finished.
No idea how it turned out, I do remember it started snowing after we'd finished.
davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
Ours,we opened it and the grass was still green
,thinking it was going to be 
we didn't have much choice but to put some out in front of heifers.They wolfed it down,did ok on it,shat through the eye of a needle tho..
There was about 2 foot of green silage on top,it did turn color underneath
We would have been screwed without it
- Location
- Yorkshire
Bales?
- Location
- Buxton, Derbyshire
Have heard of people getting a very late cut around Christmas before now!
Trouble is there isn't the day length to get much sun on the grass late in the year. So firstly there isn't enough sugars in the grass for a good fermentation and secondly the grass doesn't wilt as well. That's why it can quite often turn into green slop.
Trouble is there isn't the day length to get much sun on the grass late in the year. So firstly there isn't enough sugars in the grass for a good fermentation and secondly the grass doesn't wilt as well. That's why it can quite often turn into green slop.
Devil's advocate
Member
- Location
- Posh side of Barnsley
Can it be zero grazed?
Can you travel with no mess is my response...
Did some stiffish, damp ground a couple of years ago in early Dec of a newly establishe herbal ley, using the Compact tractor on turfs for the whole job.
I was quite chuffed at how well it went. The worst part was rowing together with a haybob to minimise travelling!Manouvred the bale sizes a bit so I dropped off on the headland near a track where I store, so again minimal traffic after I wrapped the bales. But jeez were they heavy!!