- Ensure you grow good quality, nutritious forage crops. The resulting silage quality will depend directly on what you grow.
- Apply the correct amount of fertiliser and take account of nutrients added in the form of slurry and FYM.
- Ensure grass fields are free of ruts, loose stones, and molehills.
- Be flexible regarding a cutting date. Cut when the crop is ready, sugars are high, nitrogen is low and the weather is likely to be good.
- Make sure your contractor knows your intentions – including the use of an additive.
- Cut the crop when it is dry and the weather forecast is good.
- With grass, leave the swath as wide as possible or ted straight away to promote a fast wilt, reducing moisture and increasing sugar concentrations. Leave at least three inches of grass post cutting.
- Use Powerstart or Acti-Maize additive to suit your requirements ensuring a fast, lactic fermentation.
- The clamp needs to be filled fast at silage making time, making sure there are no air pockets. Roll as you fill and minimise the length of time the silage is exposed to air. Completely seal the clamp so that the lactic acid fermentation can begin.
- Once open, the face should be crossed within four days. A block cutter or shear grab should be used and only silage that will be fed that day should be removed from the clamp.
Powerstart silage additive can help drive a faster, more efficient fermentation, supporting better nutrient preservation, you can now order online: