Deciding on a Silage

Storage Type

Brian J. Holmes

Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

UW - Madison

Craig SaxeExtension Agent Juneau County UW Extension

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

This interactive presentation lets you respond to questions which then lead you to possible silage storage types to select.

Just mouse click on your response to advance within the presentation.

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Start this presentation?Click Yes to Start

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Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

In next 10 years, will forage storage needs on your farm double?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Now Future

Are your current silage needs less than 400 tons dry

matter/yr?

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Yes No

Note: 400T DM/yr feeds about 90 cows/day at 25 lbs DM/cow/day.

Is space at your feed center limiting?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Barn

Shed

Sh

ed

Feed

Cen

ter

Yard

Example of feed center with limited space

Is capital limiting?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

$ $vs

Consider: Silage Piles or Bags

Will silage piles be covered with plastic?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Well Covered Pile

Is a third operator available to pack silage piles?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Your Solution:Consider: Silage Piles

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Needs ShallowerSide Slope

Needs MoreTires

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Will you harvest corn with your own forage harvester?Answer No if you will not harvest corn silage or you will have corn

harvested by a custom operator or neighbor etc.

Harvest labor is extremely limiting on my farm.

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Yes No

It is just me and

my brother here.

Will baling equipment be used for products besides silage baling?

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Yes No

Your Solution:

Consider: Wrapped Bale Silage

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Your Solution:

Consider: Wrapped Bale Silage or Silo Bags

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Your Solution:Consider: Silo Bags

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Do you use tower silos on your farm?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

My tower silos are less than 10 years old or are in good

shape?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Will you continue hand feeding in the barn and/or continue using a mechanical bunk?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Your Solution:Consider: Tower Silos

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Is it convenient to deliver feed to a mobile TMR mixer?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Do you have adequate room for a stationary TMR mixer?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Part of Your Solution Is:

Abandon Tower Silos

Continue?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Is there adequate space near tower silos to store silo bags?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Space for BagsAfter Demolition

Space for Bags

Your Solution:

Use Bags and Existing Tower Silos in a Feed Center Design

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Will bunker silos be covered?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Is a third operator available to pack bunker silos?

Yes No

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Your Solution:

Consider: Bunker Silos

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

Your Solution:

Consider: Tower Silos or Silo Bags

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

You have used information about your operation to select and/or narrow your choices for a silage storage system. Consider the cost and management of the selected system before deciding on your best option.

For more information on silage storage, access the Harvest and Storage web site at:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/storage.htm

Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

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