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Silage thread

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Comments

  • #1112
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,809 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    degetme wrote: »
    Do many on here Get the grass tested from each field tested for nitrogen and sugars before cutting? Also many here use an additive if no proper wilt can be achieved

    No sun sorts sugars and tedding nitrogen,no additive either as if you can't wilt and weather not suitable you shouldn't be at grass


  • #1113
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    Going to test hybrid tomorrow will have results by dinner. Will knock 30 ac this week if weather comes right for 2/3 days have another bit after that but it's very small crop atm and has N spread on it until 28 may.

    May yoke up baler here and give it a look over :(


  • #1114
    degetme
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 829 ✭✭✭degetme


    mahoney_j wrote: »
    No sun sorts sugars and tedding nitrogen,no additive either as if you can't wilt and weather not suitable you shouldn't be at grass

    Agree with above but isn't so easy to achieve an adequate wilt with weather and contractor wanting to get it done ASAP when he has others to get to


  • #1115
    Deepsouthwest
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭Deepsouthwest


    darragh_haven wrote: »
    Same pit. There is only one disadvantage with having a split cut and thats the extra closing and opening of a pit. There are numerous advantages tho.

    What are the main advantages Darragh? Would u consider switching to bales?


  • #1116
    jaymla627
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,261 ✭✭✭jaymla627


    6480 wrote: »
    What kind of feed will it be there was no proper sun lately

    At this stage with grass starting to head out, your talking about having average feed anyways, weather ahead isn't to hectic either...
    Getting the silage of now is more a grassland management tool then anything else if I had left it another week to 10 days I would be screwed in 3 weeks times trying to graze out heavy steamy covers on paddocks that I will now be able to skip and wrap because I have 40 acres coming back into the rotation, will hopefully get to make a good quality second cut for feeding the milkers on the shoulders and next spring as a buffer


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  • #1117
    Bullocks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,893 ✭✭✭Bullocks


    I saw a piece in the journal a few weeks ago about a surplus of fodder beet around and that it would be a good chance to get it thrown into silage pits if the price is right .
    I'm starting a job for a lad tomorrow that is offering to part pay me in sheep if I like but I know he has a skelp of beet that he didn't sell aswell and I'm wondering is it worth getting a bit when we are making the pit and scattering it through the silage .
    Is it any good by now or would it be dried out , he has it in the yard not washed ?
    What kinda money would it be worth a tonne ?


  • #1118
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,156 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    Just back from Magherafelt, saw a fair ammount of silage cut. Land was in good condition too.


  • #1119
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    _Brian wrote: »
    Just back from Magherafelt, saw a fair ammount of silage cut. Land was in good condition too.

    It's funny up there silage is usually cut before the cows go out . Balmoral week is the target cutting date up there


  • #1120
    C0N0R
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,962 ✭✭✭C0N0R


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    It's funny up there silage is usually cut before the cows go out . Balmoral week is the target cutting date up there

    Is that due to liquid milk cows indoors and the desire for quality silage?


  • #1121
    Carrigogunnell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 193 ✭✭Carrigogunnell


    Do about 7000 bales on hire try not work Sunday unless heavy rain for Monday or hay down and rain due then the **** hits the fan 😳. If this week holds up there will be a long of stuff knocked.


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  • #1122
    Sam Kade
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,297 ✭✭✭✭Sam Kade


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    It's funny up there silage is usually cut before the cows go out . Balmoral week is the target cutting date up there

    So they cut silage to keep the cows in and they keep the cows in to cut silage.


  • #1123
    Mad4simmental
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,580 ✭✭✭Mad4simmental


    What's the difference in sugars cutting new grass on a dry but dull day vs cutting same grass on a bright sunny day?


  • #1124
    frazzledhome
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,278 ✭✭✭frazzledhome


    Bullocks wrote: »
    I saw a piece in the journal a few weeks ago about a surplus of fodder beet around and that it would be a good chance to get it thrown into silage pits if the price is right .
    I'm starting a job for a lad tomorrow that is offering to part pay me in sheep if I like but I know he has a skelp of beet that he didn't sell aswell and I'm wondering is it worth getting a bit when we are making the pit and scattering it through the silage .
    Is it any good by now or would it be dried out , he has it in the yard not washed ?
    What kinda money would it be worth a tonne ?

    Barter no way, take notes


  • #1125
    frazzledhome
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,278 ✭✭✭frazzledhome


    All I know is I cut on Mon last and all laughed, tedded 3 times baled real quality feed 40+ dm on Tues. little and often my motto


  • #1126
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    Sam Kade wrote: »
    So they cut silage to keep the cows in and they keep the cows in to cut silage.

    Got it in one , know some guys who won't put cows out till after second cut and on the driest of land different mindset


  • #1127
    Bullocks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,893 ✭✭✭Bullocks


    frazzledhome wrote: »
    Barter no way, take notes

    That wasn't quite the bit I was wondering about frazzled but thanks ! Notes are hard come by these days it's all cheque


  • #1128
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    C0N0R wrote: »
    Is that due to liquid milk cows indoors and the desire for quality silage?

    Yes and no plenty of lads only doing average yields not getting cows out till May or June because they think there land is 2 wet and worried about mucking up gateways .


  • #1129
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    Walked my silage yesterday no seed heads.
    walked it thus afternoon and seed heads starting to emerge. Knock tomorrow I think if weather looks any way right


  • #1130
    johndeere3350
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 174 ✭✭johndeere3350


    jaymla627 wrote:
    35 acres going in pit as I speak and 15 acres of surplus paddocks being wrapped aswell, should be nice stuff was tedded out since yesterday morning and missed the rain showers, wouldn't like to be a contractor when the weather does take up everyone's going to be on for it being done the one day


    It's a nightmare.
    If people would ring a week or even a few days In advance you'd have a great chance but they just ring and expect you to be there within an hour 😬


  • #1131
    C0N0R
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,962 ✭✭✭C0N0R


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    Yes and no plenty of lads only doing average yields not getting cows out till May or June because they think there land is 2 wet and worried about mucking up gateways .

    We still have stock in here, all bulling heifers, one cow to calve and stock bull all inside. Would we be better off having them out and taking a smaller cut of silage, I think not. But as for having the bulk of stock still inside, madness.


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  • #1132
    frazzledhome
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,278 ✭✭✭frazzledhome


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    Got it in one , know some guys who won't put cows out till after second cut and on the driest of land different mindset

    Then only the LOWS and the lame


  • #1133
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,809 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    Walked my silage yesterday no seed heads.
    walked it thus afternoon and seed heads starting to emerge. Knock tomorrow I think if weather looks any way right

    Only advice id give is don't panic,be certain of 36 dry hours especially as you don't ted grass out.conditioned swaths of green lush grass left down ain't worth a ****e this early unless serious sun and heat.second half of next week promised good,baling surplus paddocks at 2/3 bales per acre is where you'll get real quality.weather like this is why I'm against hybrids and Italians as they can go from serious quality to muck in a few days


  • #1134
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    C0N0R wrote: »
    We still have stock in here, all bulling heifers, one cow to calve and stock bull all inside. Would we be better off having them out and taking a smaller cut of silage, I think not. But as for having the bulk of stock still inside, madness.

    I'd be getting the stock bull out with a dry cow r 2 into some corner of the farm his feet will be as soft as fcuk on concrete the hole time


  • #1135
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    mahoney_j wrote: »
    Only advice id give is don't panic,be certain of 36 dry hours especially as you don't ted grass out.conditioned swaths of green lush grass left down ain't worth a ****e this early unless serious sun and heat.second half of next week promised good,baling surplus paddocks at 2/3 bales per acre is where you'll get real quality.weather like this is why I'm against hybrids and Italians as they can go from serious quality to muck in a few days
    Left down for 2
    36hrs last yr after cutting and got real dry stuff that was 76 dmd will do it again. Supposed to have been rainING today but not a drop yet.


  • #1136
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    Left down for 2
    36hrs last yr after cutting and got real dry stuff that was 76 dmd will do it again. Supposed to have been rainING today but not a drop yet.

    Started using yr weather forcast seems to be really accurate mowed down paddocks last week when the local forcast was for rain ended up getting bales in at 30/40 dm after a 36 hr wilt with good spells of sunshine ,


  • #1137
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    Started using yr weather forcast seems to be really accurate mowed down paddocks last week when the local forcast was for rain ended up getting bales in at 30/40 dm after a 36 hr wilt with good spells of sunshine ,
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.nrk.yr

    This it trix?


  • #1138
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    Greengrass1 wrote: »
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.nrk.yr

    This it trix?

    Yip think so , it's a norwidian site I think , seems to be very accurate for our area anyways


  • #1139
    C0N0R
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,962 ✭✭✭C0N0R


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    Yip think so , it's a norwidian site I think , seems to be very accurate for our area anyways

    Yea been using it myself, seems to be accurate enough. Stock bull got a run out with a cow yesterday and will be let off with bulling heifers soon.


  • #1140
    stretch film
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,067 ✭✭✭stretch film


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    Started using yr weather forcast seems to be really accurate mowed down paddocks last week when the local forcast was for rain ended up getting bales in at 30/40 dm after a 36 hr wilt with good spells of sunshine ,
    +1
    Minimal rain but no great drying from midweek on according to yr.no for WD .


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  • #1141
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    stretch film wrote: »
    +1
    Minimal rain but no great drying from midweek on according to yr.no for WD .

    Looks that way for us 2 closer to the weekend looks the most promising for silage fingers crossed


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