Tama Assist Protect Silage Production in the Face of Climate Change
In recent years, farmers had to contend with some of the most difficult growing seasons on record. Though drought conditions have been somewhat relieved by recent rains, other issues, such as flooding, have brought new challenges for silage production. Meanwhile, wet winters and late springs have compressed harvesting windows, reducing the number of cuts per season.
Faced with these conditions, many UK silage producers are wondering whether traditional grass silage crops can still be relied on. The good news? There are steps you can take to optimise silage management. Here’s where to start.
One of the most practical steps any farmer can take is to diversify their grassland. Traditional grass silage crops, like ryegrass, have shallow root systems and high water needs, making them vulnerable to drought, consequently reducing silage availability when crops fail.
Forage mixtures that include chicory, red and white clover, yarrow and fescue grasses are more drought resilient because their more complex root systems better access soil moisture. Adding legumes to mixed species swards will also reduce fertiliser requirements.
There are also nutritional benefits to growing this type of herbal ley. Because these mixes contain different plants, they offer higher mineral and protein content (especially red clover), which can increase production in dairy herds.
Worth noting, though, is that herbal mixes require a little more attention for optimal fermentation. Lower sugar levels (than grass swards) mean that silage fermentation takes longer, so you may need to add inoculants, like Lactobacillus plantarum, to speed things up. Additives are recommended when using legume swards.
When baling silage, choose a high strength silage wrap. Tama’s excellent adhesive silage stretchfilm ensures a proper seal to create anaerobic conditions for silage preservation.
Another option is to expand from grass-only silage to alternatives like whole crop silage. This includes crops like maize, barley, oats and rye.
Some maize varieties are developed to be drought tolerant, making them suitable alternatives when growing conditions are tough for grass forage. Another option, that’s already highly popular in the US and South America, is forage sorghum. Though this is an emerging crop in the UK, it’s even more drought-tolerant than maize and can be harvested earlier, allowing you to stagger silage supply.
Proper silage preservation is essential to get the most from these crops. Use high quality UV-resistant silage wrap products to ensure proper silage fermentation and easy feedout. Silage bale options include CYCLED WRAP® Stretchfilm for square bales and extra long Polybale Pro for square and round silage bales.
When the weather is working against you, silage management can feel like an uphill battle and rethinking your entire growing strategy may seem overwhelming. What’s worth remembering is that it can be done in steps.
New sward mixes or whole crops can be trialled in a single field at a time. And simply upgrading your silage bale wrap to a more durable option can help improve silage fermentation and the final nutritional quality of crops you already planted.
For advice on silage preservation, ask TAMA Assist. Reach out today, and we can help you build a more resilient farm, prepared for the future.
