Is it too late to spread slurry on silage ground?

cloudroost

I got my silage ground grazed off last week and would be hoping to cut sometime around mid to late may. Due to the weather in the past week, I still haven't got any slurry spread (or chemical fertilizer, as I was waiting to spread slurry first ..). It looks like contractor is available at the weekend, but I am in two minds what to do, given that the weather for the week ahead looks dry and there won't be any rain to wash it in ....
Should I let him work away at the weekend (have aroung 3k gallons/ acre to spread) and follow up a week later with bagged fertilizer ?

mahoney_j

cloudroost wrote: »

I got my silage ground grazed off last week and would be hoping to cut sometime around mid to late may. Due to the weather in the past week, I still haven't got any slurry spread (or chemical fertilizer, as I was waiting to spread slurry first ..). It looks like contractor is available at the weekend, but I am in two minds what to do, given that the weather for the week ahead looks dry and there won't be any rain to wash it in ....
Should I let him work away at the weekend (have aroung 3k gallons/ acre to spread) and follow up a week later with bagged fertilizer ?

If it's not too thick put it out no problem with trailing shoe if splash plate and wanting to cut mid May I wouldn't chance it unless it's fairly watery stuff

cloudroost

contractor only has a splash plate and I'm guessing that it will be fairly thick stuff once it is agitated. That said, there was 3 loads of pig slurry (aboud a quarter of the tank) added last week to make it easier to agitate.

Seaba

mahoney_j wrote: »

If it's not too thick put it out no problem with trailing shoe if splash plate and wanting to cut mid May I wouldn't chance it unless it's fairly watery stuff

Trying to get Dad to use the slurry for the silage this year.
How long should the watery slurry be out before you cut the silage? How many weeks after putting the slurry out should you put on the fertilizer?

Sorry for jumping in, asking these questions, but it's something I have been at Dad to do for years. This might be the year!
Thanks.

cloudroost

My understanding (and I'm definitely not an expert) is slurry should be out a min of 6 weeks before silage and fertilizer could go out up to a week before or a week after the fertilizer. My particular concern is if there is a dry spell after spreading slurry ....

White Clover

cloudroost wrote: »

My understanding (and I'm definitely not an expert) is slurry should be out a min of 6 weeks before silage and fertilizer could go out up to a week before or a week after the fertilizer. My particular concern is if there is a dry spell after spreading slurry ....

If the field is bare I'd spread away. Go out with him for the first load and if u think it's too heavy tell him go up a gear. I wouldn't worry bout it caking this early in the year

limo_100

whats the benefit of putting it on for silage is it to save money on fertilizer or is there better quality silage with slurry on