Silage 2022

morphy87

I have ground taking for silage, one cut only, I spread the fertilizer and slurry, will I qualify for this €100 an hectare on this ground?

roosterman71

I think there's going to be a shortage. I've had a few different fellas onto me looking to secure bales. I don't have enough land under grass to supply the usual lads who have all requested an increase from 10 to 40% over and above the usual amount.

funkey_monkey

@roosterman71 - do you just make forage and sell on? Or do you keep any stock yourself?

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119011009#Comment_119011009

No stock of my own

Danzy

It makes sense this year to encourage extra forage being saved, even just to encourage people to maintain levels.

Confidence is on the floor.

It might not take much to see a rout.

I'm going to make extra silage this year, build up a good bank of grass in the fall, lightly stocked at the moment and will pick up value if I can for next year. It won't take much to knock my confidence on that though.

There are some Paddocks ready for June that are serious quantity over quality. I'm not risking a late spring next year. At least half was skinned by the sheep and looks like it will be top notch. They'll eat well the first half anyway.

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119009803#Comment_119009803

Saw that winter finishers will need 7 next Winter.

Ration will be well above 600 a tonne I'd say.

James2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010449#Comment_119010449

Being appropriately stocked with the correct amount of fodder is only a bad Spring away from being out of fodder and in trouble.

The signs are all here and its explained in my post you quoted. Same thing that has happened every other fodder crisis, only this time we are looking at crazy high meal bills and collapse in Autumn weanling sales. If we have an early housing and/or late turnout next Spring then its going to be a disaster.

The whole point of this scheme is to get fertiliser out on silage fields.

Dunedin

Is there any details on how you apply for the scheme? How do they know how much silage you cut?

James2022

Full details to be announced this evening. The amount might be raised since we are looking at €30+ for a bale this year but no budget set. There's also rumblings its beef and sheep only.

hopeso

Do the figures add up? €100 per hectare, capped at €1000 per farmer will come to a total of €55 million….. Are there that many hectares of silage ground, or farmers in Ireland?

ginger22

for beef and sheep farmers only. https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/interview-silage-support-scheme-limited-to-beef-and-sheep-farmers/

Grueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013684#Comment_119013684

How about mixed farmers? 60% or so of my current stock is beef stock

Sugarbowl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013328#Comment_119013328

Maybe we can claim off the same ground twice? 1st cut and 2nd cut? That’s as long as you are under the 10 hectares of course.

JustJoe7240

Was the beef and sheep only condition an afterthought?

dmakc

As is the case with TAMS grants, a good portion of that 40 euro will also comfort contractors to increase their fee that bit more. I wouldn't be surprised if it's now 10-20 more per acre than it was last week.

If anything the exclusion of dairy farmers might keep contractors honest

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013857#Comment_119013857

I presume if you are in Dairy that will be it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119014438#Comment_119014438

Ya it seems you. An claim for first and second cut. However they have stated it will be monitored by the eye in the sky.

Because it limited to 10ha and to beef/ sheep farmers it should not allow too much of a grab by either fertlizer companies or contractors.

Lots of drystock farmers on poorer quality land might just go out and buy a ton or two of fertlizer. Even two bags 18-6-12 per acre on a silage field at this stage would push it on a good bit.

Put 500 euro with it and if the field got slurry you could go with a bag of protected urea per acre on 25 acres.

leoch

Any more detail on how to apply

Cavanjack

Does anyone know of any farmer that has decided they are keeping cattle next winter but not cutting any silage because of the price of fertilizer?

I can’t think of anyone I know that hasnt fertilizer out and meadows growing at this stage. Will this €1000 euro change anybody’s mind about cutting silage? I doubt it.

mr.stonewall

My feeling is lads are going to reduce the numbers they keep over the winter. This will have a knock on effect to the store trade over back end of this year

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119022883#Comment_119022883

Not but it cements in my mind not to give cattle away the end of the year due to worrying about low silage level. The extra 1k if I can get it will make the second crop a good crop of stuff.

smallbeef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119022883#Comment_119022883

Yeah all drystock farmers around me seem to be putting out similar amount as other years. Can't see a major glut this backend unless we get a bad summer for growing grass

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119022883#Comment_119022883

Why overthink it, isn't it grand to get it.

People seem to be criticising it even though we're not entitled to it at all,

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119024984#Comment_119024984

My thoughts exactly. Any man that’s not happy with it doesn’t have to take it but all of these thousands don’t fall down out of the sky, take all of them you can get!

Gudstock

What is a meadow of good quality grass worth in the field per acre? Fertiliser, probably less than the farmer would normally tho and slurry gotten already. Would have to make bales of it.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119025016#Comment_119025016

Depending on grass quality and amount of fert spread the rates around here are anything from €230 - €300 per acre and most lads want it gone off the field by June bank holiday. €230 being older meadow and €300 being recently reseeded high quality meadow.

Danzy

Saw a neighbour shaking a meadow today.

From what was in it already, he'd have a big crop the end of May. He'll have something savage in 6 weeks time.

Lot of people are worried about next winter and planning for all eventualities.

I've met no one recently who is thinking about adding more this winter or standing still.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119024911#Comment_119024911

The real fear is for ladd that feed a nice bit of ration over a winter. Whether it's 2-3 kgs to stores or weanlings or 10+ kgs to finishing cattle.

Feeding 3 kgs to stores next winter if ration prices remain the same will mean that it will cost you 2.2/ day to overwinter stores and 2/ day for weanlings. Finishing costs will 5 euro/ day.

mr.stonewall

Around here, most have reduced the amount to fertiliser being spread on meadows. A lot have a buffer of silage and hay left from last year, due to the good growing conditions last year.

As bass said ration price is going to be the pinch in the system. There is no sign of the Ukraine war ending soon, China in lockdown at the moment is a blessing in disguise for oil price and inflation. When China is opened up this will drive things gangbusters for at least 3 months

Funding feeding ration at €500±/ton is going to hard ask for most farmers, even those that are feeding a kg/day. Heavy meal feeders are likely to sit it out or drop numbers. We are sleep walking into a supply crisis. Cull numbers will be up until the back end of the year, lads will be dropping numbers to make the winter easier. This will no just be Ireland, it will be a world wide issue. Grain planned to be fed to animals will most likely end up in the market due to higher prices.

We have options in this country, due to our climate for grass. This is the year for quality feed, more so if a buffer is leftover. Taking out strong paddocks that were planned for grazing in the next 2 weeks is a great opportunity. Growth is now on people's side and the staggered aftergrass into the system. Here I have 4 paddocks of 1st round grass, I should have taken out last week, will be taken for bales at the next opportunity. This is high quality feed. Anything to put cheap weight on cattle is now more pronounced so strip wires and moving to a fresh pick every 2 days.

Secondly there is time for beef farmers to put a bit of arable silage in. Will have yeild and some more energy from the grain. Again undersow and with the TIS scheme, it will pay for the seed and grass seed. Even 5 acres will be a big help to most farmers. I put 15 acres on tired silage ground. I had planned to do about 9 acres before the scheme was announced.

This year is the year to do something different. We will probably have inflation for the next 2-3 years. Worldwide beef futures are rising for the next year, dairy will turn downwards towards the end of the year. My plan is to up beef stock by about 10% in the current climate, I'm not overstocked and it won't put fertiliser quantity up.

When everyone is running one way, walk slowly the opposite way

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119026621#Comment_119026621

what is the current price of beef ration? I will be going using some from July onwards, would it increase much by then?

Wildsurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119026724#Comment_119026724

Arable silage is hardly eligible for that scheme, isn't the idea to increase amount of grain harvested?

DBK1

Anyone cutting any this weekend? I’ve 3 men after ringing between last night and this morning to take out paddocks. Going to mow today and bale tomorrow. Might do a few of my own too when we’ll be yoked up anyway.

Grass after growing like mad here the last week and it’s all getting ahead of stock now. As Stonewall said earlier if ever there’s a year to be aiming for top quality this is it.

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027194#Comment_119027194

Too wet here atm

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027201#Comment_119027201

It was a full wet day here yesterday too but nice and sunny today. What’s being cut today will probably be 3-5 bales per acre stuff so won’t be too heavy and should wilt enough.

I’ve heavier meadow, maybe around 8 bales per acre, to cut for myself and another customer but we’ll be waiting for a lot better drying conditions before cutting that.

GrasstoMilk

Surplus bales are very costly this year, too costly IMO

between the under-utilised N, cost of plastic, cost of diesel and the list opportunity to put it into meat or milk

we’ve driven up our sr for late April and may to reduce them

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027229#Comment_119027229

Still way too wet to mow anything here. No drying at all. Very foggy

Mooooo

Whatever way its worked make sure there is enough feed for a bad spring/ long winter. Early in the year yet so who knows how it pans out but next spring there may not be much spare feed to be found or bought if it comes bad

smallbeef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119026724#Comment_119026724

Agree with this. However most lads will still make their usual big cut of steamy silage in late june and that will keep the cattle alive for the winter, they'll cut back on ration and that will affect growth rates massively. Will be lots of light older cattle about next year.

funkey_monkey

No fertiliser out here yet. Growth this far north is slow but picking up. We'll be looking at late June or into July for cutting. Not seen any of the neighbours out spreading it either. Everyone seems to be overly cautious with the bags this year not wanting to get caught out.

Cattle still in here as we try to get a bank of grass ahead of them before turning out. Giving them lasts years bales as they'll not be in great shape next year. Might even be in until June at this rate. Don't remember them all being in this late in the season for a long time.

Bit of a disaster of a year ago far. The silage ground was due for a Reseed but that will be on hold until next year at earliest.

cute geoge

I can never understand lads wanting a bank of grass ahead before letting cattle out .I have 40 acres 2 bags of urea spread so far all ground got a round of slurry 2000 gal/acre ,started letting cows out gradually from march 18th all out since april 1st .55 cows ,10 yierlings and 15 calves on 40 acres with surplus now showing in front of them with the spurt in growth these days .

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027726#Comment_119027726

Plug in the fence ,open the gate and let out some few anyway this evening before the year is gone!!

James2022

I wasn't sleeping easy last week with the lack of grass growth but the fields have taken off now. Unless your fields are waterlogged get cattle out.

About the €1000, I only put out half the fertiliser I usually would because of the price of it. Local Co-Op says everyone is the same cutting back. Having a fodder supply isn't always about feeding your own animals. I don't know what price silage/hay will be next Spring but I'd like to know I have a surplus to help any neighbours in need. That scheme will help push a better second cut than usual.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027726#Comment_119027726

Funkey if I were you I’d be getting out the fert and more importantly get the cattle out. Don’t mind what the neighbours are doing, you do what’s best for you. May and June are the peak grass growing months of the year. If the grass isn’t there in them 2 months it won’t be there any month of the year.

Your cattle won’t be thriving in the shed at this day of the year either. Even as an experiment let out half of them and whenever you let out the second half compare the difference to the 2 batches.

Easten

Visited relatives in Mayo and was shocked that they still had half their cows inside. They had plenty grass from what I could see but I think it is the lack of fertilizer has them frightened to let the stock out.

I'm of the opinion that if you have always fertilized then there will be a buffer in the soil that grass will use. So for this year a lighter shake of fertilizer should not have a major difference in grass growth. If it continues into next year then you would then start to see a change in output

valtra2

Quick question on covering a pit. First time in about 15 years doing a pit this year so looking to get a bit of info on covering. Have no tyres or anything so starting from scratch. Was thinking of getting the easy fix 1.5by1.8 meter covers they are about 30 kg or would it be better get a big 10 by 10 cover and the tyres that are cut in half. All info welcome. Will be putting cling film and a hermitage cover on it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119029561#Comment_119029561

Check out some videos on YouTube,

Get as many hands as you can to help

cute geoge

the silage mats of tyres joined together is a super job

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119029345#Comment_119029345

This thing about letting cattle out is all.in the mind. If there is grass there I would be letting cattle eat it. As long as ground can best it eat it. Even the fear of damage cattle will do is over emphaised. The biggest factor about fear is fear itself.

Rehousing 1/2 your stick is not so eathing to be afraid of. I would prefer to be sticking a bale in a feeder in May than in November and alot of lads do that anyway

K.G.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119029561#Comment_119029561

Been hearing there's q bit of a swing back to pit from bales.anyone changing back to pit

Mooooo

Was always put for main cut, but with extra ground will prob have more bales, will suit transport and cutting a bit more. Doing a share of reseeding this year so should be less bales

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119031172#Comment_119031172

Same every year. First cuts are all into pits and then later in the year lads go for bales

funkey_monkey

The fertiliser will be going out hopefully this week. Was still cold here until about last week.

Re having the cattle still in. I'd like to have them out too, but they will be in for a few weeks yet as although the grass is greening up there is no bulk to it here yet. The silage bales are already a year old so may as well use therm up new when they are in decent shape. They'll have to go out then as if not calving will be pushed out next year.

In regards to lads wanting a back of grass, there are ones on the grazing thread worrying about drought and grass growth, so it's not ideal putting cattle with young calves out and then having to rehouse them. In my opinion it's better to keep them in until you know they can stay out.

As for watching the neighbours, it's not a matter of looking over the hedge. It's a point that in this area the temperature isn't there yet to be going out with it and noone is doing it. We're not that far behind last year, but behind nonetheless.