Friday, March 29, 2024
5.5 C
Galway
HomeFarming NewsVIDEO: Preparing your silage pit for 1st cut
Reading Time: 2 minutes

VIDEO: Preparing your silage pit for 1st cut

As silage season is soon upon us, now is the time to look at your silage pits, according to David Webster, ASSAP Advisor, Teagasc.

In this video, the Teagasc advisor gives an overview of preparing your silage pit for this season and also the spread of silage effluent.

The key areas outlined in this video are as follows:

Clean and repair

Webster advises the first thing to do is clean the pit and channels, ideally with a pressure washer. Identify and repair any cracks in the concrete and all repairs are to be completed in accordance with the Department of Agriculture specifications and regulations.

Ensure silage is within effluent channels

- Advertisement -

When making silage, it is important to ensure that all of the crop is ensiled within the channels in order to allow effluent to be collected and directed into the effluent tank.

Extra capacity

The Teagasc ASSAP Advisor recommends that if your crop is bigger than the holding capacity of the pit, store the extra silage in another suitable silage pit. If you don’t have an extra storage facility, turn the silage into baled silage.

Land spreading

When spreading the silage effluent on the land, dilute the effluent with one part water or slurry to one part effluent.

Check the weather forecast before spreading and do not spread if rain is forecasted within the following 24 hours. Do not spread within 5-metres of any watercourse.

- Advertisment -

Most Popular