Deciding on a Silage Storage Type

1. Deciding on a Silage Storage Type Craig Saxe Extension Agent Juneau County UW Extension Brian J. Holmes Biological Systems Engineering Dept. UW - Madison

2. 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. The buttons below have the same meaning throughout this presentation. Presentation Beginning Previous Slide Next Slide Presentation End

3. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Start this presentation?Click Yes to Start Yes No

4. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage In next 10 years, will forage storage needs on your farm double? Future Now Yes No

5. 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.

6. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Yard Is space at your feed center limiting? Shed Example of feed center with limited space Barn Feed Center Shed Yes No

7. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Is capital limiting? $ vs $ Yes No

8. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Consider: Silage Piles or BagsWill silage piles be covered with plastic? Well Covered Pile Yes No

9. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Is a third operator available to pack silage piles? Yes No

10. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Needs Shallower Side Slope Your Solution:Consider: Silage Piles Needs More Tires

11. Will you harvest corn with your own forage harvester? Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Answer No if you will not harvest corn silage or you will have corn harvested by a custom operator or neighbor etc. Yes No

12. Harvest labor is extremely limiting on my farm. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage It is just me and my brother here. Yes No

13. Will baling equipment be used for products besides silage baling? Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Yes No

14. Your Solution:Consider: Wrapped Bale Silage Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage

15. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Your Solution:Consider: Wrapped Bale Silage or Silo Bags

16. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Your Solution:Consider: Silo Bags

17. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Do you use tower silos on your farm? Yes No

18. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage My tower silos are less than 10 years old or are in good shape? Yes No

19. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Will you continue hand feeding in the barn and/or continue using a mechanical bunk? Yes No

20. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Your Solution:Consider: Tower Silos

21. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Is it convenient to deliver feed to a mobile TMR mixer? Yes No

22. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Do you have adequate room for a stationary TMR mixer? Yes No

23. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Part of Your Solution Is:Abandon Tower SilosContinue? Yes No

24. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Space for Bags After Demolition Is there adequate space near tower silos to store silo bags? Space for Bags Yes No

25. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Your Solution:Use Bags and Existing Tower Silos in a Feed Center Design

26. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Will bunker silos be covered? Yes No

27. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Is a third operator available to pack bunker silos? Yes No

28. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Your Solution:Consider: Bunker Silos

29. Flow Chart to Select Silage Storage Your Solution:Consider: Tower Silos or Silo Bags

30. 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 Presentation Beginning Last Slide