Silage July 2022

Country News, week of Tuesday, July 19, 2022 17

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Silage

July 2022 16-page feature

Cutting a swathe John Deere swathers in Utah line up for work.

Read more about Luke Felmingham’s recent tour of the United States on pages 20 and 21.

High grain yields boost silage PAGE 24

Fleet helps through harvest PAGE 26

Using silage as a management tool PAGE 30

18 Country News, week of Tuesday, July 19, 2022

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silage

Wrapping up an Aussie product

By Daneka Hill

F

or Agri Novatex, silage is about more than wrapping up grass — it’s a piece of Australian history.

The business manufactures the iconic SilaWRAP product, created in 1984 by two Gippsland farmers and one Tasmanian.

The three farmers invented what is now recognised as silage film after observing ensiling practices overseas.

Agri Novatex Australia country manager Brad Power said the difference between Agri Novatex and other silage players was its commitment to local manufacturing.

“Because of the factory in Melbourne, we make the film here which is pretty important because for silage it can go from nothing to everything in a few weeks,” Brad said.

“If you were expecting one cut and it turns into three, it’s a long time to wait for a ship to come over.”

The business is bracing for the upcoming spring cuts.

Brad said farmers across the country would be looking to replenish their feed reserves.

“With storage reserves at an alltime low ... I can see there being a large swing towards getting every bit of grass tucked away,” he said.

“It will depend on the growing temperatures in most places but there will hopefully be a second cut and there is talk of a third cut in Gippsland.”

Agri Novatex took over the

Brad Power (left) and Dominic Adams visiting Agri Novatex’s new silage film factory in Melbourne. The machinery is straight from Italy and was assembled during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been functional since early 2022. manufacturing and distribution of SilaWRAP in 2020 and doesn’t take the responsibility lightly.

“It (SilaWRAP) is the single biggest brand in the Australian silage market, the correct term is ‘number one selling wrap’,” Brad said.

“It’s got strong brand recognition and there is a long established trust in it.”

He said Agri Novatex was very lucky to have on-shore manufacturing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and international shipping delays.

“We don’t rely on international

shipping freight so there is no issue getting containers into Australia. That is our strength.”

When it comes to pit versus bale silage, the Agri Novatex hasn’t seen any big change in trends.

Brad said the main change was larger on-farm storage, regardless of ensiling method.

“So if they were using pits they do more pits, and if they are doing bales they do more bales.”

Agri Novatex also sells baling twine, silage pit covers, grain bags, net wraps and inoculates.

“Another key point is that our products are well supported by the team we have,” Brad said.

“We sell to stores and they sell to farmers, but we also have area managers who help those farmers and stores understand why silage is important and how that impacts milk in the vat.”

Ben Beattie is the area manager for southern NSW and northern Victoria.

“Ben spent yesterday with a farmer just driving around his paddock learning what the pain points are in his operation,” Brad said.

Ben centres himself around the

Albury area but travels long distances for the job and said his area could be a mixed bag.

“It’s predominantly dairy product based but we have a large number of grain bag customers, too,” he said.

“An area like Deniliquin is really mixed because they do the broadacre and the dairy.”

Ben said he was getting a lot of questions about plastic recycling and reusing from customers, which is something Agri Novatex is listening closely to.

“There is a bit more emphasis on the origin of a product and what manufacturers are doing to limit their use of virgin plastic material,’’ he said.

“People are certainly mindful of the manufacturing process and they want to support local manufacturing.”

Ben said the recycling of silage film was in its “infancy” and customers asking questions was an important first step.

Rising on-farm costs have also been changing the way dairy farmers use silage — choosing to invest in their own grass and prioritise a quality product.

“As with everything around the rising input costs, we are seeing a focus on maximising on-farm feed and becoming less reliant on buying feed in,” Brad said.

“The cheapest feed is your own feed.

“People are focusing on quality over quantity and that works well for us.“

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silage

Hay making

By Geoff Adams

K

Katandra hay producer and contractor Luke Felmingham saw super-sized hay making during a tour of the United States.

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atandra hay producer and contractor Luke Felmingham found hay making and agricultural production was literally bigger than Texas on a recent trip to the United States.

“It’s happening on an industrial scale; very efficient,” Luke said about the size of farming operations where dairy farms carried huge herds, feedlots stocked tens of thousands of head and hay making was organised at a highly mechanised and efficient level.

The speed of hay making was an important aspect for Luke, who runs a business processing about 7000 tonnes of hay every year.

The turnaround time for hay making — including the cutting, raking and baling processes — are critical for efficient hay production and can also impact on susceptibility to hay fires through spontaneous combustion.

“One of the goals of the trip was to see how they are making hay between three to seven days,” Luke said.

“In Australia we are struggling to achieve that.”

One of the advantages may lie with a roller-crusher that is employed after the crop is cut.

Luke believes it can speed up the curing process by one to two days as it removes moisture from the

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“Just about everyone had them over there.”

He was so impressed on his return, he ordered some of the rollers.

They will join Luke’s stable of hay production equipment, which includes two Staheli steamers that use a diesel-fired burner and a low-pressure boiler system to control hydration of hay during baling.

“We want to be able to produce better quality hay and that was a goal of the trip,” Luke said.

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Country News, week of Tuesday, July 19, 2022 21

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silage

bigger than Texas

Stinger hay bale stacker on one of the US farms.

Luke Felmingham inspects a Massey Ferguson mower conditioner fitted with crusher rollers. Photo: Simon Finlayson.

chance we have of getting microbial growth and the less chance of that leading to shed and haystack fires.”

The bigger US operators threw large numbers of heavy machinery at big swathes of fields.

“Nothing is done by half. Once they get the job they throw everything at it,” Luke said.

“When they were mowing they could have between three to 10 mowers going, 10 to 20 rakes and in some cases you’d see three to five balers going on one field.”

The machinery included the hay stingers, which gather, carry and then stack big squares.

Luke acknowledged that the scale of operations did not translate to Australian conditions but some of the principles they employed were probably useful here.

In Utah, which was very hot and dry, the group saw hay production using steamers in almost every case, running at about 100 per cent to generate between 12 and 13 per cent moisture.

While some of the states had ready access to groundwater, during dry conditions they were noticing the levels falling away and Luke wondered how long that access would remain under continued, intensive farming.

One curious point of interest were the sidelines that many successful farms had developed.

They often had identified a promising and profitable small aspect of business which they developed and enlarged, and this was something Luke would like to try his hand at, although he is not yet ready to disclose what he is ruminating over.

Luke’s tour, sponsored through the Hay Guard and Tama companies, took the group through Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Nevada in two weeks during June, the hottest time of the year for the mid-western states.

The Australian tour group in a lucerne paddock in Kansas.

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silage

The key to making better silage O

ver the years, I have often asked my clients and students: “Do you make good silage or do you make silage well?”

Most are a bit confused by the question thinking they are pretty much the same thing — but they are actually poles apart.

The key to making good silage is to start with an excellent fodder source.

The reality is the quality of silage is always a step in grade down from the crop you start with, and it matters not whether it’s pasture, maize, cereal or lucerne.

Two factors contribute to this — the fermentation process and the inability of the animal to select when fed back.

Our first mistake in making excellent silage is in chasing yield as, with the exception of maize and lucerne, yield always comes at the expense of quality.

The second mistake is in not understanding well enough what happens during the ensiling process.

We don’t all need to be experts in silage making here, but it helps to understand the most important factors and how they impact the end result.

The shorter the period

between initiating the ensiling process (which starts at cutting) to when the pH reaches its magic number — 4.2 (but it ranges from 3.7 to 4.7, depending on the crop and conditions) — the better.

It is the soluble carbohydrate to soluble protein ratios that largely determines this because this ratio determines the buffering capacity of the crop.

In short, soluble carbohydrate is the source of acid, and soluble protein is the buffer.

The lower the sugars and higher the protein, the greater the buffering capacity which, in turn, slows the rate at which the crop hits the magic pH. And, the longer this period, the more nutrient is lost from your silage.

This is why maize is the easiest crop from which to make silage well, and pure legumes the most difficult. It is also why silage crops should always be cut mid-afternoon as sugars are at peak and NPN at its (relative) lowest.

The importance of wilting to a DM of 35 to 40 per cent cannot be overemphasised to optimise the balance between compaction and avoiding seepage (in which all the goodies are lost), and compaction to eliminate oxygen.

Too dry and we cannot sufficiently compact the crop; too wet and we get seepage.

Both increase the lag between ensiling and obtaining our target pH 4.2.

The past couple of decades have seen a massive improvement in method and repeatability of successfully making silage well — most of this is around inoculant use. But now there are so many it is difficult to choose which one you should use.

The newest is 4SIGHT’s enSILE-Bio RTU, a ready-to-use catalyst that accelerates the growth of the endogenous (not applied) lactic acid bacteria — the ones already contaminating the silage in vast numbers.

This means the carbs are converted to acid much sooner and finishing the process faster resulting in better quality silage.

The reports coming back from early adopters are that “the silage looks exactly like the feed that went in”. Music to my ears.

— Dr Les Sandles 4Sight is an Australian business focused on equipping agriculturalists with innovative and cost-effective solutions for regenerative farming practices and sustainability.

4Sight ag consultant Dr Les Sandles is passionate about soil health and sustainable practices.

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Country News, week of Tuesday, July 19, 2022 23

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silage

High grain T

Inoculants improve the fermentation of corn silage, reducing losses and improving the performance from silage when fed to stock.

o maximise economic returns, corn crops grown specifically for silage production should be high grain yielding to deliver the best overall forage quality, according to Pioneer Brand Seeds’ Jason Scott.

Research has shown that the forage quality of corn leaves and stems, known as stover, varies between hybrids, but to maximise milk and animal production potential, grain yield will have the biggest influence.

“Highest grain yield provides the highest overall forage quality, so it makes sense to choose a high grain yielding hybrid,” Mr Scott said.

“Grain provides, in rough numbers, about 50 per cent of the silage yield.

About 65 per cent of the metabolisable energy of the silage comes from the grain, and grain supplies 80 per cent more energy than stover on a kilogram for kilogram basis.

“This is why you need to have a high yielding grain hybrid to start with, for silage.

“Medium and quick maturity hybrids are usually best for providing the best mix of digestibility and metabolisable energy. They can yield good grain and provide quality stover at the right dry matter content.”

Pioneer has seen a tendency towards growers selecting hybrids in maturity categories less than 118CRM for silage.

“These hybrids allow growers to turn around a higher rate of crop

rotations, mitigate early season frost and wet weather risks, and have enough water to get the crop through to the 34 to 38 per cent dry matter content for optimum silage production,” Mr Scott said.

“We see silage growers aiming for higher plant densities with the lower CRM hybrids, about 10 to 20 per cent more than for a grain crop, and this gives them the ability to hit that silage quantity plus quality sweet spot they are looking for.”

He recommended seeking advice from an agronomist or seed sales manager, because forage quality could be reduced through lower grain production where very high plant populations were used.

“It is important to select the correct hybrid for your growing environment, and to manage that crop for the conditions it will experience so you achieve your silage goal.”

Mr Scott also advised that, additional to agronomic factors, growers should not forget the importance of selecting the right bacteria inoculant to apply at the harvest stage.

Pioneer has been researching and identifying safe and effective bacterial strains to be used in silage additives and inoculants since 1978, and has developed a wide-ranging portfolio of crop-specific inoculants.

“A properly inoculated and ensiled silage pit will have minimal activity on the face of the silage at feed-out,

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silage

yields boost silage

Start with a high yielding grain hybrid — about 65 per cent of the metabolisable energy of the silage comes from the grain.

Pioneer Seeds national corn and microbial lead Jason Scott checking silage pit temperature. reducing risk of spoilage losses and herd health issues,” Mr Scott said.

Pioneer commercialised the first proprietary inoculant containing L. buchneri — the main bacterial strain of choice to ensure silage pits remain

cool and to prevent feed losses due to the growth of yeasts and moulds — in 2000.

“Pioneer has been making advances ever since,” Mr Scott said.

“We know that an inoculant that

reduces pH to below 4.5 in a fast and efficient action will have reduced risk of spoilage through a slow fermentation.

“So in 2016, we introduced our Rapid React technology products

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which contain a new L. buchneri strain that works to produce stable silage in just seven days.

“With the trait characteristics of a quick season corn hybrid like Pioneer P9911 coupled with Pioneer brand inoculant 11C33 with Rapid React, dairy farmers are able to harvest and ensile for maximum energy and maximum milk production.”

Pioneer has also supported the advancement in inoculant technology with the development of an application system designed and calibrated specifically for Pioneer brand inoculant products.

“The unique design of the Appli-Pro application system reduces water requirements and offers a high level of application precision and

convenience,” Mr Scott said.

The Appli-Pro has been designed to work with all major brands of forage harvesting equipment, and allows the operator to use the easily calibrated cab-mounted control panel to turn the applicator on and off to precisely control the application rate.

Controls are available either as wired or via iPad app, to suit the operator and cab set-up.

The super low application rate of the Appli-Pro application system and non-requirement to premix the inoculant before filling into the tank makes for less downtime and increased time chopping or baling. ▯ For more information, visit: https://www.pioneerseeds. com.au/

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silage

Paul Treble has four McHale V660s and three Vario Fusion baler wrappers.

One of the first McHale machines Paul Treble invested in, a V660 variable chamber baler, is still going strong 70,000 bales later, with its original belts and original tyres.

The McHale Orbital Bale Wrapper is a high-speed round bale wrapper.

Fleet helps get through harvest P

aul Treble knows plenty about hay baling. In the contracting business for more than a quarter of a century, Paul has worked in all manner of conditions, with all manner of machines, to meet the expectations of those who engage his team.

He has a simple message about McHale balers and wrappers: “We want more of their gear in Australia”.

Paul’s business is based in Simpson, in Victoria’s Western District. He established his contracting operation in 1994 and also spent eight intervening years working for another contractor in Gippsland.

These days, he has eight full-time members of staff on the books, a number which increases via the

engagement of casual staff during harvest.

“We mainly contract to the dairy industry,” Paul said.

“That’s about 90 per cent of our work. We do cultivation, prep and sowing and then come harvest, farmers will have us do the preparation for making silage and hay in round bales.

“We’ve got two McHale wrappers, the conventional 991B and the other is an Orbital. We also have four McHale V660s and three Vario Fusion baler wrappers.

“We work in an hour’s radius by tractor, so it’s about a 50 to 60 kilometre range from our base unless it’s a bigger job. In that case we have trucks to transport the machinery.

“The farmer will tell us what he

wants — either a hay baler or a silage baler. If he wants us to wrap, we take the Fusions in and do both jobs with one machine.”

Remarkably, the first version of McHale’s Fusion, a combined/integrated baler wrapper, appeared 20 years ago.

As the series evolved, the Fusion range has become the ‘go to’ choice for farmers and contractors in more than 50 countries.

Today, the Fusion 3, the Fusion 3 Plus with film binding technology and the Fusion Vario with variable chamber, carry on the tradition — known for their patented bale transfer, high-speed vertical wrapping ring and strong resale value.

Paul appreciates the longevity and durability of his McHale fleet.

“Our biggest cost is down time — if we can avoid it, we’re more productive,” he said.

“We found that with McHale there’s very little down time. The maintenance on them is minimal and they last longer.

“There’s more electronic componentry now, but as far as the simplicity of McHale goes, that hasn’t changed — they haven’t gone too high tech.

“You always get plugging. Other brands have the drop floor as well but we find the McHales are so much more efficient.

“Since we’ve gone to the baler wrappers, there’s time saved with non-blockage and transfer of the bale into the chamber for wrapping, and we just don’t have the problems that

we used to have with older systems, even in damp conditions.”

One of the first McHale machines that Paul invested in was a V660 variable chamber baler. It is still going strong today — 70,000 bales later — with its original belts and original tyres.

“I was one of the first to have McHales in my area,” he said.

“There were other brands being used, and still are, but they’d always be looking over the fence at what I was doing.

“Now, you would say there are more McHales in our area than any other brand — that’s contractors and farmers.” ▯ For more information, phone 1800 424 241 or visit www. mchale.com.au

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silage

Apprentices getting hands-on at the dedicated Case IH training facility at TAFENSW in Wagga Wagga.

Qualified O’Connors service technician Corey Bell says working with heavy machinery is challenging and rewarding as a career.

Get the best start with Redstart Agricultural machinery dealership group O’Connors has formalised its approach to apprenticeship recruitment and training through its Redstart Apprenticeship Program.

“O’Connors had long been committed to apprentices and the philosophy of growing our own and have now formalised this into the Redstart Apprenticeship Program,” O’Connors human resources manager Lisa Day said.

“We want this program to attract the best possible candidates and applicants accepted into the program each year to be rewarded through a first-class apprenticeship program filled with incentives only on offer to

the Redstart trainees.”

Redstart apprentices will attend TAFENSW located in Wagga Wagga, which has a dedicated Case IH training centre where apprentices will have the opportunity to complete their training working on the latest product range from Case IH. All successful candidates will be enrolled into the Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology, which includes Case IH specific training at the dedicated facility.

Head automotive teacher Wayne Sibrey is responsible for delivering the program to the apprentices.

“No other training organisation or facility offers this type of dedicated

ag mechanical training,” Wayne said.

“We have a partnership with Case IH who supply the latest machinery and components for the program, ensuring our students are given access to the most up-to-date and advanced equipment.

“We know that apprentices need to have hands-on experience in realworld environments and we deliver that on a 140-acre (56ha) working farm.

“The farm allows us to implement faults, test and repair in the workshop and test drive under real in-paddock conditions. We can install and program GPS systems and simulate real life scenarios.”

Other incentives include a Kincrome toolbox and tools valued at $5000, additional internal training, Redstart conferences involving all apprentices who come together for activities, training and professional development.

Corey Bell — a qualified service technician at the O’Connors Warracknabeal branch in the Wimmera — completed his apprenticeship within the dealership.

“Working as a diesel mechanic for O’Connors is hugely rewarding and satisfying,” Corey said.

“We’re given the responsibility and autonomy to problem-solve and diagnose faults to find the root cause of

the client’s issues and to implement the solutions as required to rectify the problems.

“Working with such high-tech and powerful equipment and knowing that we are part of the support mechanism that ensures that farmers can continue to grow the food we need to feed the world is a great feeling.”

Applications for the 2022 Redstart Apprenticeship Program are open until August 29. ▯ For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.oconnors careers.com.au/apprentice ship-program/ or contact Tim Nagorcka on 0448 598 000 or tnagorcka@jjoconnor.com.au

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Fodder conference returns The hay, silage and fodder supply chain sectors will gather in Toowoomba this month for the first time in three years for the national conference.

Hosted by the Australian Fodder Industry Association, the event kicks off with a welcome function on Monday, July 25 before launching into a two-day conference.

“The event is a welcome return to normal business for the industry, and will appeal to anyone whose business includes fodder — from

growers and contractors to traders and end-users,” AFIA’s Paula Fitzgerald said.

The two-day program includes presentations from leading hay producers around the country, an update on the oaten hay and national oat breeding program, and the National Hay Quality Awards.

“One of our keynote speakers is David Jochinke, vice-president of the National Farmers’ Federation, and he will outline the NFF 2030 Campaign, a bold vision for the industry to

exceed $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030,” she said.

“This target has fantastic implications for the fodder industry, with around one third of all Australian commercial scale farms involved in making hay or silage each year.”

Interactive panel discussions will cover topics ranging from healthy humans equal healthy business, innovation, future fodder and regional communities.

There will also be sponsor presentations, product launches, a ‘new kids

on the block’ session talking to fodder industry newcomers and two ‘nuts and bolts’ sessions focused on tips for securing and retaining skilled staff and cyber security for businesses.

“The trade hall sold out quickly, with exhibitors snapping up booths, keen to show their wares and talk to people face-to-face after a long period impacted by the pandemic,” Paula said.

“The post-conference tour is always a highlight with our members and this year looks no different with a

state-of-the-art robotic nursery, a lot-feeding operation, cotton farm and gin, and an evening in Chinchilla all part of the plan.

“We are really looking forward to a great week of catching up with friends, colleagues and the wider fodder community to discuss the exciting developments and innovations in the sector, and of course, the challenges we all face together in rural Australia.” ▯ The full program is available online at: https://afia.org.au/ events/#fodder-conference

Cancer fundraiser at hay awards A function to announce the winners of the 2021-22 Feed Central National Hay Quality Awards in Toowoomba will take on special meaning this year.

The event on July 25 will also serve as a fundraiser for Cancer Council as former Feed Central general manager Cieran Maxwell talks about his working career prior to agriculture, the 10-year career in agriculture to date and his current battle with bowel and liver cancer.

For Mr Maxwell, the event is an opportunity to also encourage anyone with little pains to act quickly.

“I did the typical male thing and put up with a bit of pain

here and there before it got so bad, I had to go to hospital,” he said.

“It’s vitally important that you get diagnosed as soon as possible if you have any issues.

“I was getting chest pain in February but waited till the pain was getting worse before going to hospital on the afternoon of March 4 and I was diagnosed that night.”

Mr Maxwell was diagnosed with bowel cancer with his liver as secondary cancer.

“It’s a huge life change and fight.”

Before taking on leadership roles with Feed Central, Mr Maxwell worked in hospitality and managed four- to five-star

hotels from Brisbane to Sydney.

His connection with Feed Central started after a meeting with managing director Tim Ford.

“It was an opportunity to get into the ag business and learn from the bottom up something I was very passionate about,” he said.

“The best thing was being part of the challenges of the fodder industry and seeing the learnings and improvements in feed testing and quality assurance.

“The production of hay and supply of fodder is a challenging task, much harder than other commodities across the feed game.”

Mr Ford said the event would celebrate Mr Maxwell’s career with Feed Central and his contribution to the fodder industry.

“It’s very rare to work with a person who has such an absolute commitment and passion for the company and industry,” Mr Ford said.

Mr Maxwell reinvented Feed Central’s quality assurance practices, bought feed testing into the business and led its 24-hour turnaround time and handled many large accounts through the drought.

Mr Maxwell will join AFIA chair Brad Griffiths to announce the winners of the National Hay Quality Awards.

The event will be held from

Former Feed Central general manager Cieran Maxwell will talk about his working career and his current battle with bowel and liver cancer at the National Hay Quality Awards on July 25, which will also be a fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

11.30am on Monday, July 25 at the Burke & Wills Hotel, 554 Ruthven St, Toowoomba, Queensland.

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Country News, week of Tuesday, July 19, 2022 29

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silage

Using silage as a m S

ilage can play a key role in all grazing systems, conserving pasture from periods of surplus, so it is available to livestock when paddock feed is short.

Silage is a valuable pasture management tool, helping to maintain pasture quality and improve use during periods of peak growth.

yield and quality of both the silage and the grazed pasture.

One of the most important principles in producing high quality silage is to cut pastures early, when they are at a late vegetative to early reproductive stage of growth.

Although delaying cutting often produces a higher silage yield, silage quality from early cutting is usually higher. Pasture regrowth is also usually greater, which means that total production from the pasture (as both silage and regrowth) is also higher.

Maturity varies between cultivars and species. This must be taken into account when determining paddock closures and cutting dates.

Removing paddocks from the grazing rotation early involves some risks. For example, there may be a temporary shortage of pasture for grazing if an unexpected weather change slows regrowth.

Paddocks closed very early will be ready for cutting early in the silage season when there is a greater risk of unfavourable weather affecting the wilting process.

Be clear about objectives Making silage offers considerable potential to increase productivity.

However, it is critical to plan how silage will fit into the overall grazing management program.

Your key objectives when integrating silage cuts with grazing management should be to: •Improve pasture utilisation by strategically timing silage cuts to remove surplus pasture.

•Maximise total forage production (grazing and silage) during the period of peak pasture growth.

•Maximise the quality of both the silage and grazed pasture — the target ME (metabolisable energy) level for temperate pasture should be at least 10 megajoules per kg of dry matter (MJ/kg DM).

•Only cut what is surplus to grazing requirements.

Short-term pasture benefits

Timing the cut Cutting irrigated pastures for silage, rather than hay, allows watering to recommence sooner.

In deciding when to cut silage, your aim should be to optimise the

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Incorporating silage production into your pasture management

program has the potential to create a range of short-term benefits: • Silage cuts reduce the need to slash or mulch surplus and rank pasture during periods of peak pasture growth.

• There is anecdotal evidence that early-cut silage, compared to late-cut silage or hay, encourages desirable species such as clover and perennial grasses when the pasture regenerates.

• Cutting irrigated pastures for silage, rather than hay, allows watering to recommence sooner — a shorter wilting period for silage means the pasture is less likely to become moisture stressed.

• Cutting lucerne early for silage helps control weeds. The risk of weather damage to the first cut is also reduced when it is cut for silage rather than hay. Regrowth following a silage cut can provide a high-quality pasture for grazing animals, free of internal parasites and grass weeds.

• When combined with effective grazing management, silage production can increase the quality of forage available for grazing on areas of the farm not set aside for producing silage.

This is because higher grazing pressure on the balance of the farm maintains the pastures in a productive, or vegetative, phase for longer.

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silage

management tool The Bureau of Meteorology has released an update to the way it describes the likelihood of rain on its BOM Weather app.

BOM app updated T

Typical pasture growth and animal requirements.

Long-term pasture benefits • Silage cuts can influence longer-term changes in the composition of pastures by reducing the competition between species. For example, grasses tend to dominate

legumes during periods of rapid growth.

• Silage cuts may also influence the seed set of annual species in pastures.

• There is clear evidence that silage cuts can reduce the content of some broadleaf weed species in

pastures. It is generally assumed that silage making controls these weeds by reducing or preventing seed set, and by sterilising any weed seeds that are harvested and ensiled.

— NSW Department of Primary Industries

he Bureau of Meteorology has released an update to its BOM Weather app making rainfall forecasts easier to understand.

Millions of Australians rely on the bureau’s weather app for information critical to their daily lives.

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Australians using the app will see how much rainfall is expected each day in millimetres.

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When rainfall is unlikely, the app will simply display 'No rain'.

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These changes will equip all Australians — including farmers, event planners and tourism operators — with the rainfall information they need to make informed decisions.

With millions of Australians relying on the bureau's rainfall forecasts to make informed decisions, this change will mean customers can be confident in their understanding of the amount of rain expected in their location.

The bureau will continue to identify opportunities to improve the way information is presented and welcomes feedback from users through the app.

Users will need to update the BOM Weather app through their relevant app store to see the update.

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