Looks like plenty of early silage this year

yellow50HX

Have been spotting a good few fields cut for silage this week. We will have a few fields ready in another 10-14 days. I know last year was late (we were still feeding silage bales this time last year), but looks like this is earliest I have seen silage been cut round here for a few years. Looks like most farms are about 2-3 weeks ahead of normal.

exercise is the antidote

Don't know much about cutting silage but are some fellas cutting just to look good or wat have seen very light crops on the ground? I know quality over quantity but it just looks silly I think when you see a bare line of silage on the ground

jj92

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

Don't know much about cutting silage but are some fellas cutting just to look good or wat have seen very light crops on the ground? I know quality over quantity but it just looks silly I think when you see a bare line of silage on the ground

Was over at a farm a few weeks ago, he had a few very light acres cut for bales even then. He reckoned it was just to clean up the paddocks as he had nothing to graze it and he had a market for the bales. I've seen people cut light pastures early elsewhere and often put it down to fellas getting some silage in and getting the paddocks back in the rotation for dairy cows.

restive

I walked some of my own this evening. Very happy with the meadow. Some would definitely be fit for Silage. What I would be thinking of is the really bad summer of 2012. May was not a bad month that year. It turned bad just as farmers were preparing to cut in early June 2012.

frazzledhome

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

Don't know much about cutting silage but are some fellas cutting just to look good or wat have seen very light crops on the ground? I know quality over quantity but it just looks silly I think when you see a bare line of silage on the ground

I've 60 acres on the ground of "light crop" about 4-5 bales per acre. It's grass that's gotten ahead if cows. Have to listen and laugh at the lads slagging me yet they're be lovely after grass in 3 weeks. At that stage they'll be cutting their crop "harvester on its knees, only way to get value" my cows will be doing >8% solids and they'll be complaining about poor solids cause they haven't managed their grass.

Muckit

Silage fit to cut here if could get a decent few days.

Genghis Cant

Muckit wrote: »

Silage fit to cut here if could get a decent few days.

Tempted to knock ten acres tomorrow. I'm not sure the ground is dry enough yet though.

freedominacup

frazzledhome wrote: »

I've 60 acres on the ground of "light crop" about 4-5 bales per acre. It's grass that's gotten ahead if cows. Have to listen and laugh at the lads slagging me yet they're be lovely after grass in 3 weeks. At that stage they'll be cutting their crop "harvester on its knees, only way to get value" my cows will be doing >8% solids and they'll be complaining about poor solids cause they haven't managed their grass.

First cut mowed here. Area increased by two thirds since it was stopped. Paddocks taken out as late as yesterday. They should have gone for bales but weather was against us. Grass still flying. There'll be more paddocks as the aftergrass comes in.

case 956

15 acres of strong paddocks mowed this afternoon, 1st bit of silage ever done in this area as early.... girlfriend said she may go to the pub this weekend as I be the talk of it :P, more bales when aftergrass back in

stanflt

case 956 wrote: »

15 acres of strong paddocks mowed this afternoon, 1st bit of silage ever done in this area as early.... girlfriend said she may go to the pub this weekend as I be the talk of it :P, more bales when aftergrass back in

Knocked 92 acres today and the auld man is still tedding like mad- god he will be missed when he's not around

Would of liked to have cut 2 weeks ago

20 odd acres already pitted since april

darragh_haven

Here today.
Pit tomorrow

Greengrass1

stanflt wrote: »

Knocked 92 acres today and the auld man is still tedding like mad- god he will be missed when he's not around

Would of liked to have cut 2 weeks ago

20 odd acres already pitted since april

92 acres??? Sounds like you need more cows

Muckit

There isn't a buff of breeze and temps not hectic. How are ye all knocking the sap out of grass?? Also heavy dew at night

darragh_haven

Muckit wrote: »

There isn't a buff of breeze and temps not hectic. How are ye all knocking the sap out of grass?? Also heavy dew at night

Hardly any dew here. My dad was knocking grass up to 10 last night and he got out to see if the grass had any dew on it but he said it was as dry as a bone. (As he bent down the phone fell outta his top pocket. It'll be in the pit tomorrow)

mahoney_j

Muckit wrote: »

There isn't a buff of breeze and temps not hectic. How are ye all knocking the sap out of grass?? Also heavy dew at night

I'm teddibg mine out.24 acres knocked of surplus paddocks,baling Friday.think I may knock main crop tomorrow and pit Saturday as weather looks like breaking down again

stanflt

Greengrass1 wrote: »

92 acres??? Sounds like you need more cows

120 cows for 6 month winter will require 260 tonne of silage in dm terms for my feeding regime


Which is approximately 130 acres of silage

Then there's all those replacements 160 plus bulls

darragh_haven

stanflt wrote: »

120 cows for 6 month winter will require 260 tonne of silage in dm terms for my feeding regime


Which is approximately 130 acres of silage

Then there's all those replacements 160 plus bulls

Ah. The bulls...... I think I see where your coming from now

mahoney_j

Great way to wilt grass and increase dm content

mahoney_j

Great way to wilt grass and increase dm content

Greengrass1

stanflt wrote: »

120 cows for 6 month winter will require 260 tonne of silage in dm terms for my feeding regime


Which is approximately 130 acres of silage

Then there's all those replacements 160 plus bulls

Do you ever use the 6mth silage or us it just so you don't get caught with a bad spring?

Clutch Pack

frazzledhome wrote: »

I've 60 acres on the ground of "light crop" about 4-5 bales per acre. It's grass that's gotten ahead if cows. Have to listen and laugh at the lads slagging me yet they're be lovely after grass in 3 weeks. At that stage they'll be cutting their crop "harvester on its knees, only way to get value" my cows will be doing >8% solids and they'll be complaining about poor solids cause they haven't managed their grass.

All very well to sneer about managing grass from a dry farm,i've 15 acres which went ahead of the cows which should be baled tomorrow.....if i could get in to cut it.

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Do you ever use the 6mth silage or us it just so you don't get caught with a bad spring?

Every farm should have a buffer of good quality silage could be invaluable especially when u have to buy someone else's muck

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

Every farm should have a buffer of good quality silage could be invaluable especially when u have to buy someone else's muck

I never said they shouldn't. I hope to have it this year. But very rarely do most farms need the 6 mth feed is all I'm saying.

darragh_haven

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I never said they shouldn't. I hope to have it this year. But very rarely do most farms need the 6 mth feed is all I'm saying.

I'll have to disagree with you GG. Your farm is in one of the dryest parts or the country and your soil type seems to be free draining. MOST farms need 5 months and need to budget for 6 month winters

frazzledhome

Clutch Pack wrote: »

All very well to sneer about managing grass from a dry farm,i've 15 acres which went ahead of the cows which should be baled tomorrow.....if i could get in to cut it.

What sneer? Nothing to do with land quality. Read post again and the one that was quoted

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I never said they shouldn't. I hope to have it this year. But very rarely do most farms need the 6 mth feed is all I'm saying.

I'd argue they do especially at high sr.silage should be budgeted for from mid October to early April and don't forget time of drought or crap weather.

mahoney_j

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I never said they shouldn't. I hope to have it this year. But very rarely do most farms need the 6 mth feed is all I'm saying.

I'd argue they do especially at high sr.silage should be budgeted for from mid October to early April and don't forget time of drought or crap weather.

Greengrass1

mahoney_j wrote: »

I'd argue they do especially at high sr.silage should be budgeted for from mid October to early April and don't forget time of drought or crap weather.

Sorry I'll rephrase my comment to every farm. But I don't think I'm.alone when I say its only the last two yrs I've been tight for feed for a few months.
Never before as bad as the last two

darragh_haven

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Sorry I'll rephrase my comment to every farm. But I don't think I'm.alone when I say its only the last two yrs I've been tight for feed for a few months.
Never before as bad as the last two

1 in 5 has been as bad as the last 2 years.
Silage in the pit is made money in the bank. It not going to devalue if it stays in a pit 3 or 4 years

Timmaay

How much would yous aim to carry over on a normal year?? 2months worth? With our old SR we use to carry over at least 2months silage every year (that was with keeping all the bulling heifers and late drycows in till June!), but last two years with a higher SR the stocks have dwindled. Only managed to hold over about 3weeks worth of fodder this year.

Miname

it'll be the start of june here, i was a bit complacent here this year and currently way too much grazing and not enough closed for pit, so i'll be doing bit of mix and swap. I was walking the fields this evening and i'm in a desperate need for a high percentage of reseed.

keep going

darragh_haven wrote: »

Here today.
Pit tomorrow

Heard you were going at it did ye ted it after

darragh_haven

keep going wrote: »

Heard you were going at it did ye ted it after

You must have been talking to mr. grace.
We don't ted it, and only use the swarth wilter if it gets wet.
Just set the mower with the doors open as much as possible, it'll have between 30 and 48 hours wilt and the rake puts into 30ft swarths. Rake 2 hours before pick up to allow the raked swarth wilt a bit more

keep going

darragh_haven wrote: »

You must have been talking to mr. grace.
We don't ted it, and only use the swarth wilter if it gets wet.
Just set the mower with the doors open as much as possible, it'll have between 30 and 48 hours wilt and the rake puts into 30ft swarths. Rake 2 hours before pick up to allow the raked swarth wilt a bit more

They re no home from kinsale yet but he ll be on in the morning

Zr105

mahoney_j wrote: »

Great way to wilt grass and increase dm content

Er hate to say it Mahoney but your wheel looks a bit wonky there....

mahoney_j

Zr105 wrote: »

Er hate to say it Mahoney but your wheel looks a bit wonky there....

That's why I stopped ,pun came out.all good again now!!

Muckit

mahoney_j wrote: »

Great way to wilt grass and increase dm content

In combination with the right weather a win win.

But l doubt at the moment they're are many housewives shouting 'God there's great drying out' as they're taking the clothes in off the line. But sure what has that got to do with the price of turnips.

exercise is the antidote

frazzledhome wrote: »

I've 60 acres on the ground of "light crop" about 4-5 bales per acre. It's grass that's gotten ahead if cows. Have to listen and laugh at the lads slagging me yet they're be lovely after grass in 3 weeks. At that stage they'll be cutting their crop "harvester on its knees, only way to get value" my cows will be doing >8% solids and they'll be complaining about poor solids cause they haven't managed their grass.

I should of mentioned that it wasn't on a milking block, and you would be lucky to get 4 bales/acre, of what I seen.. Cutting and baling must be very expensive for only getting 4bales/acre. That's all I was getting at I didn't mean to offend you or anyone that has cut silage early!!

frazzledhome

exercise is the antidote wrote: »

I should of mentioned that it wasn't on a milking block, and you would be lucky to get 4 bales/acre, of what I seen.. Cutting and baling must be very expensive for only getting 4bales/acre. That's all I was getting at I didn't mean to offend you or anyone that has cut silage early!!

Baling not too bad at 4 bales cause paying per bale any heavier use wagon per hour

sheebadog

Anyone tell me how much per ton silage costs in the pit or bale ?

Answers per ton brute. OR per ton of DM please.

farmerjj

frazzledhome wrote: »

I've 60 acres on the ground of "light crop" about 4-5 bales per acre. It's grass that's gotten ahead if cows. Have to listen and laugh at the lads slagging me yet they're be lovely after grass in 3 weeks. At that stage they'll be cutting their crop "harvester on its knees, only way to get value" my cows will be doing >8% solids and they'll be complaining about poor solids cause they haven't managed their grass.

How come your cutting the 60acres 'light' would you not cut 30acres now (so to get back in rotation)and leave the rest bulk up??

Brown Podzol

sheebadog wrote: »

Anyone tell me how much per ton silage costs in the pit or bale ?

Answers per ton brute. OR per ton of DM please.

Can vary a lot, but €150 per ton dm is the figure usually quoted.

darragh_haven

The guy with the rake arrived. My 5 year old nephew just exploded with the excitement.

Milked out

You have a great day for it, serious heat and sun there now

Milked out

Many of ye test for nitrogen before cutting?

frazzledhome

farmerjj wrote: »

How come your cutting the 60acres 'light' would you not cut 30acres now (so to get back in rotation)and leave the rest bulk up??

I have main crop to do next week. This light stuff is part of the grazing area. As growth is past demand I rose SR and take out ground at same time as cows would've grazed it. This will ensure grass here in 26 days or so whereas if I wait it'll be much longer. If growth dropped I'd be goosed and feeding expensive meal to fix the problem.

yellow50HX

darragh_haven wrote: »

I'll have to disagree with you GG. Your farm is in one of the dryest parts or the country and your soil type seems to be free draining. MOST farms need 5 months and need to budget for 6 month winters

Yeah we would be the same, would always look to have 6 months of silage made. You may not need for the whole winter but it may be needed for the summer whew you get a wet patch and need to re house or have a drought and need to supplement feeding. As him self says " better to be looking at it then for it".

Good point on if the land is dry enough. I would doubt all the place is dry enough yet to take a lot of travelling espically around gaps. There has been a lot of rain lately so the ground is still soft under foot in places. Another fortnight of dry weather would make a difference ( not looking good with the start of the next week). Was chatting to the lad that does the mowing and he reckons that it would be ok for bales but a lot of places are not quite ready for the big SP outfits.

C4d78

Milked out wrote: »

Many of ye test for nitrogen before cutting?

Ya tested 2 fields but it'll be early tomorrow am before I'll get results

sheebadog

Ah Lads!! 5 to 6 months worth of silage!
Bit of a misrepresentation of the beef and milk supposedly produced off GRAZED grass. Now now.... Is there someone telling porky pies?

simx

frazzledhome wrote: »

Baling not too bad at 4 bales cause paying per bale any heavier use wagon per hour

How much does wagon work per hour?

Brown Podzol

Milked out wrote: »

Many of ye test for nitrogen before cutting?

Asked teagasc on Monday. Too busy filling SFP forms, come back next week. In the pit this morning nitrogen and all. Should be ok, Hybrids, 50 units first week of March and 70 units start of April. No slurry. Will get a good dose this evening tho.