Silage 101

Thought I'd give you the low-down, the scoop, the 411 on the art of Silage. Since I just happen to have by camera with me yesterday I took some pictures to help capture the whole process. Now, I realize some of you already know how this works, but I'm sure there are a few of you that don't. Also, I'm posting on this subject because I have nothing else to write about and so this is all you're going to get out of me today. So, turn back now or hang with me for a couple of minutes.



Where do I begin...




First of all we start with corn stalks that have matured fully and are just beginning to dry down.

Second, we have the tractor which is pulling the cutter which is pulling the wagon.

The cutter feeds in two rows of corn at a time and basically slices and dices the whole corn plant into tiny pieces about the size of a kernal. You can see in the picture above just how clean of a cut it makes. There's only about six inches of the stalk left on the ground.

The cutter than blows the choppings into the wagon.

Once the wagon is full, the truck pulls up right next to the wagon. Literally, it is within inches of the wagon. The wagon lifts up and dumps the load onto the truck.

The truck then races through the field and heads to the pile where it unloads. It is necessary to go quickly so that the cutter doesn't have to wait to dump its next load. There is no sluffing off when you're driving the truck. (except when you're taking pictures for blogging purposes, despite the cross looks you may get from the boss)

When the truck reaches the pile the box is raised up and the silage pours out the back.

After the box is empty and lowered back down, the truck heads back through the field for the next load.

At the pile, the silage is pushed up on the pile and then drove over back and forth several, SEVERAL times with a loader tractor to pack it all down. It must be packed hard otherwise it will spoil and rot.

We cut 85 loads this year and finished in two days. With the bountifull hay crop we're hoping it'll be enough to keep the cows full all winter. My Dad drives the tractor pulling the cutter and wagon and my brother drives the tractor packing at the pile. I'm the truck driver that's rushing back and forth constantly from the field to the pile. It definately makes for a LONG couple of days.

So, now you know the whole process as it happens on our farm. Yes, for tens of thousands of dollars we could upgrade and get newer cutters and wagons - but for the two days out of the year that we use them, our 35 year old cutter and 20 year old wagon will do. Some day, some year, they'll probably get too old and tired for the job, but for now it all seems to work just fine.