Deciding on a Silage Storage Type

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Deciding on a Silage Storage Type
Craig Saxe Extension Agent Juneau County UW
Extension
Brian J. Holmes Biological Systems Engineering
Dept. UW - Madison
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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.
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Start this presentation?Click Yes to Start
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Yes
No
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In next 10 years, will forage storage needs on
your farm double?
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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.
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Is space at your feed center limiting?
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Yard
Shed
Example of feed center with limited space
Barn
Feed Center
Shed
Yes
No
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Is capital limiting?
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vs

Yes
No
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Consider Silage Piles or BagsWill silage
piles be covered with plastic?
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Well Covered Pile
Yes
No
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Is a third operator available to pack silage
piles?
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Yes
No
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Your SolutionConsider Silage Piles
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Needs Shallower Side Slope
Needs More Tires
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Will you harvest corn with your own forage
harvester?
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Answer No if you will not harvest corn silage or
you will have corn harvested by a custom
operator or neighbor etc.
Yes
No
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Harvest labor is extremely limiting on my farm.
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It is just me and my brother here.
Yes
No
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Will baling equipment be used for products
besides silage baling?
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Yes
No
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Your SolutionConsider Wrapped Bale Silage
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15
Your SolutionConsider Wrapped Bale Silage
or Silo Bags
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Your SolutionConsider Silo Bags
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17
Do you use tower silos on your farm?
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Yes
No
18
My tower silos are less than 10 years old or are
in good shape?
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Yes
No
19
Will you continue hand feeding in the barn and/or
continue using a mechanical bunk?
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Yes
No
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Your SolutionConsider Tower Silos
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Is it convenient to deliver feed to a mobile TMR
mixer?
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Yes
No
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Do you have adequate room for a stationary TMR
mixer?
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Yes
No
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Part of Your Solution IsAbandon Tower
SilosContinue?
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Yes
No
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Is there adequate space near tower silos to store
silo bags?
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Space for Bags After Demolition
Space for Bags
Yes
No
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Your SolutionUse Bags and Existing Tower
Silos in a Feed Center Design
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Will bunker silos be covered?
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Yes
No
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Is a third operator available to pack bunker
silos?
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Yes
No
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Your SolutionConsider Bunker Silos
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Your SolutionConsider Tower Silos or Silo
Bags
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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
athttp//www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/storag
e.htm
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