Forage storage and management

By Dr. Luiz Ferraretto, University of Wisconsin-Madison assistant professor and extension specialist
Recent corn silage field studies have addressed whether fermentation can make up for inadequate processing at harvest.

By Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical specialist
Quickly eliminating oxygen from silage and keeping it out during storage is integral to maintaining silage quality. Silo plastic coverings play an important role in achieving this goal, and advancements in this technology continue meet the challenge.

By Mark Case, Vita Plus dairy specialist
Depending on who you ask, you can get drastically different answers regarding how to tell if high moisture shelled corn and snaplage are ready for harvest, so we consulted the experts to make sure we get it right.

Stephanie Jens, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, joins Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus, to provide high moisture corn management tips to store and prevent spoilage in the silo, as well as feed it.

By Nathan Hrnicek, Vita Plus forage consultant
It is important to have the correct storage space for all of your forages. If you are considering new storage structures, keep in mind the amount of space and feed you need now, as well as in the future, and how it works into your feedout strategy.

By Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical specialist
While most producers are concerned about moisture content around harvest time, it can be beneficial, as well as profitable, to measure moisture content at these seven times throughout the year. 

Stephanie Jens, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, joins Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus, to offer a few tips to harvest and store high moisture corn, including choosing the right inoculant, keeping inoculant lines from freezing, and grinding the corn to optimize starch digestibility.

By Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical specialist
Preserving as much true protein quality as possible in your homegrown forages is an important part of ensiling, and utilizing that protein efficiently will lead to greater overall profitability. One way to achieve both of those goals is with a research-proven forage inoculant.

Stephanie Jens, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, and Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus
Safety is a value at Vita Plus, and we remind all our customers, staff, and industry partners to be safe during forage harvest and throughout the year. This video offers tips to follow when working around forage bunkers and piles.

By Andrew Heath, Legacy Seeds agronomist
Yield is the most important component of an alfalfa crop’s profitability equation, and proper management of insect pests will preserve yield potential for greater feed quality and stand longevity.

By Jon Rasmussen, Vita Plus dairy technology specialist
No matter what your fields look like, it is advantageous to know when the feed in storage will be used up, and frequent measurements and projections of your feed inventory will help reduce any anxiety you may have going into planting and harvest. 

Custom harvesters are asked to do a lot of things when it comes to packing a bunker or pile, but what happens when it becomes unsafe? Orr spoke from personal experience and provided his solutions to "making it all fit."

By Pat Hoffman, Vita Plus dairy technical specialist, and Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical specialist
Frost has settled in across most of the Midwest. Freezing temperatures will affect silage fermentations and, if you find yourself in this situation, here are some management tips.

By Dr. Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus forage products and dairy technical specialist
Sudangrass and other grasses come with a potentially deadly challenge in the form of prussic acid. This problem is further complicated after a frost, but proper management can help minimize detrimental effects.

By Pat Hoffman, Vita Plus dairy technical specialist
Starch digestibilities are expected to be lower than ideal in many situations this year, and many producers are wondering what they can do to compensate for low starch levels. It helps to first understand how starch is protected in the kernel.

By Nathan Hrnicek, Vita Plus forage consultant
With the unique challenges of this growing season and forage inventory shortages on many farms, some producers are already considering a late alfalfa harvest. Keep these tips in mind if you are considering - or have already decided to take - a late cutting.