Silage july 2015 (low res)

Country News

E G A P 6 1 URE FEAJuTly 2015

Reaching Australia ’s richest agricultural region

Silage Making Page 2

Keen on Kuhn — Page 3

Hazards in silage making — Page 6

Selecting fodder for silage — Page 13

PAGE 2—‘Silage’, July, 2015

silage making

Five layers deliver triple benefits ilotite Pro — a technically S advanced five-layer silage stretch film — offers farmers

and contractors the triple benefits of an enhanced balewrapping process, significant cost savings and augmented crop quality.

BPI Formipac’s next generation bale wrap, developed for use with round and square bale wrappers, has the added benefit of being easier to recycle thanks to its thinner but stronger profile.

Five-layer SilotitePro bale wrap

benefits from a greater reel length — 1950 m instead of the usual 1500 m supplied with conventional products. This extra length allows users to produce 30 per cent more bales for each reel.

The resultant cost savings are further enhanced by a reduction in the number of reel changes necessary.

For example, given that un-boxing and changing a reel takes about seven minutes each time, it is possible for farmers and contractors wrapping about 350

bales a day to save up to 30 minutes of their time daily.

This significant time saving combined with the fact that operators can carry a full day’s film requirements on the bale wrapper, helps to increase productivity levels.

The excellent puncture resistance, robust characteristics and tack levels afforded by SilotitePro unite to deliver a tough, high-performance bale wrap that operates equally well for day and night wrapping in all climates.

BPI Formipac’s advanced fivelayer manufacturing techniques and its expert use of the latest raw materials has allowed it to enhance the essential characteristics required of a bale wrap.

The business’ unique system of continuous measurement and adjustment during the SilotitePro production process assures optimisation of the original fivelayer film structure.

The advantages of SilotitePro don’t end when the bale is finally unwrapped. Being thinner, it takes

20 per cent less film by weight to wrap a bale which means there is correspondingly less film to recycle post-use.

Additionally, SilotitePro is now available in a 100 per cent recyclable polythene sleeve.

Made from the same base material as the bale wrap itself, the sleeve removes the need for cardboard cartons and can be easily recycled through the same channel as used bale wrap, thereby aiding management of the waste stream.

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Pink bales are expected to litter the landscape this spring.

Silage turns pink for breast cancer

his spring will see the countryside T dotted with pink bales of silage thanks to an initiative from Tapex,

which has expanded its Pink Campaign with The McGrath Foundation.

In 2014, Tapex released a limited edition pink and black Netwrap with a percentage of sales going directly to The McGrath Foundation to support its work to raise breast cancer awareness in young Australians and the placement of breast care nurses within rural communities.

This year Tapex has added pink Balewrap to the range.

A limited quantity will be available with a percentage of this product’s sales also going directly to The McGrath Foundation.

Tapex sales representative Darrell Butler wants to see the rural landscape dotted with pink bales as a visual reminder of the role women play within the farming community. ‘‘We are very mindful that rural women do not have access to health care and information that those in our towns and cities have,’’ Mr Butler said. ‘‘We wanted to do something to help bring change to this and our pink Balewrap and Netwrap products are our way of supporting breast cancer awareness.’’ ➤ For more information, contact a Tapex representative or visit Tapex at www.tapex.com.au

‘Silage’, July, 2015—PAGE 3

silage making

New Kuhn baler is ‘a revelation’

By Cathy Walker

B

rothers Noel and Paul O’Sullivan, together with Paul’s son Rhys, grow oaten hay and wheat at Pine Lodge.

While the crops are just springing out of the ground, silage and then hay season comes around quickly so now the O’Sullivans can turn their minds to machinery maintenance and equipment for the coming season.

Having — in Noel’s words — ‘‘worn out’’ several balers, they purchased a new one from Haeusler’s Shepparton last season and he said it had been a revelation.

Their choice was a Kuhn 2160 ‘‘because the brand’s got a pretty good name’’ and they put it straight to work, turning out 5000 bales without a hitch last year. ‘‘The way it feeds in (the hay) it just gobbles it; we didn’t have a blockage for the whole season,’’ Mr O’Sullivan said. ‘‘Everything is so much quicker compared with the old ones and better in the (tractor) cabin; the netwrap is on the front of the baler.’’

Mr O’Sullivan said the business supplied oaten hay for the Goulburn Valley dairy market and wheat straw for the piggeries. ‘‘We are farmers and we do all our own stuff,’’ he said. ‘‘We did silage during the drought although haven’t done any since — but this machine would be ideal for that too. ‘‘One thing I did like about it is the maintenance — there isn’t much.’’

Haeusler’s sales manager Gavin Gall said the Kuhn VB series was available in two models: 2160 and 2190. ‘‘The one Noel purchased, the 2160, does five-feethigh bales while the 2190 bales are six feet high, that’s the only difference.

They are both four feet in width,’’ Mr Gall said.

Feet? ‘‘That’s the language we refer to these things, and I know the farming

Noel O’Sullivan and his nephew Rhys will make good use of their Kuhn VB 2160 baler this year. community does too. The customers all call them as five by four bales, or six by four; I’ve never heard of hay bales referred to in metric sizes,’’ Mr Gall said.

The sales pitch for the Kuhn VB bales is based around paddock field performance, bale quality and bale density, because every minute counts when weather conditions are uncertain.

As the bale grows within the bale chamber, the belt tensioning arm is subjected to steadily increasing resistance from two hydraulic cylinders and a spring tensioner. As the diameter grows, the bale’s density does too.

The result is a firm bale with a moderate core — not too soft, not too hard.

With a tougher outer layer, straw bales will be more tolerant to bad weather conditions, while silage bales will maintain their shape for improved stacking and easier handling.

Pictures: Holly Curtis

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PAGE 4—‘Silage’, July, 2015

silage making

Seeking grazing-tolerant lucerne ucerne will persist and L perform well if strict grazing management practices are

adhered to.

It is well understood that for long-term productivity, lucerne pastures require rotational grazing. Many studies recommend a minimum spell period of around 35 days with a short grazing period.

These practices should provide a reasonable balance between persistence, quality, yield and animal safety.

There is a low adoption rate of implementing grazing rotations due to a number of factors which include: paddocks often too large and high costs associated with subdivision and watering; additional management required; and the benefits of rotational grazing lucerne are not well understood or demonstrated clearly enough in Australian pasture systems.

However, perhaps the greatest obstacle is that over a long dry summer, when the only green feed on the farm is lucerne, producers will understandably leave their valuable stock grazing for extended periods despite the consequences.

Continuous grazing of lucerne through hot and dry periods subjects the stand to a magnitude of stresses such as trampling, tugging, pulling, waste excrement and daily defoliation.

These continual effects will most likely lead to a rapid decline

Grazing tolerance trial at Leigh Creek, Ballarat. Stamina 5 lucerne is on the left and non-grazing tolerance lucerne is on the right. in stand persistence.

There is a strong correlation between winter dormancy and grazing tolerance, but there are also a number of morphological and physiological traits that contribute to differences in lucerne persistence under grazing.

In the early 1990s at the University of Georgia in the United States, it was identified that a lucerne which would have the ability to withstand periods of continuous grazing would be

highly desirable.

An industry accepted standard test protocol was developed to identify and characterise lucerne cultivars specifically for their tolerance to continuous grazing.

A six-year screening program was conducted in the US by Cal/ West Seeds (now Alforex), which combined elite breeding lines and successful commercial varieties.

These evaluation trials were continuously grazed by sheep and cattle for lengthy periods at high

stocking rates. As a result of this screening program, 24 lines of elite grazing-tolerant lucerne were sent to Australia and evaluated against 18 commercial Australian lucerne standards.

Two trials were sown in 1999, one at the Leigh Creek Research Station at Ballarat and the other at Gundagai in southern NSW. After four years of rotational grazing, the Leigh Creek trial was subjected to continuous grazing for two years with a stocking rate

of 40 sheep/ha. Supplementary feed was provided to maintain the high stocking rate.

However, the NSW site suffered severe drought, therefore final selections from these trials were made with confidence that conditions were as tough as lucerne is likely to encounter.

Almost all of the US-bred cultivars developed for grazing tolerance persisted better than every Australian standard.

Two breeding lines were identified for outstanding persistence, acceptable winter dormancy, strong pest and disease resistance and yields equal to the best standard cultivars and were subsequently released as Stamina 5 and Stamina GT6.

These experiments — along with other subsequent trials around Australia and other published literature — have shown that through maintaining stand density, improved persistence, quality and yield can be achieved in lucerne cultivars that have been selected for grazing tolerant characteristics.

Improved persistence also results from reduced weed invasion of the stands.

Further benefits of grazingtolerant cultivars are observed in hay production through continually producing high yields and strong stand density, maintaining high quality as well as improved traffic tolerance.

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Hay has a valuable role as roughage.

Roughage is vital in winter

oughages are the bulky feeds that R are considered as being high in fibre and low in energy.

The common types of roughages for most livestock are pasture grasses and other grazed forages; hay and dehydrated forages; silage from grasses, legumes or cereal crops; and crop residues and crop byproducts such as straw, stubble and hulls.

With the new growth of pasture and various supplementary feeds that could be given, you could ask — why is there a need to feed roughage?

Roughage will be needed this winter for any of the following reasons: ➤ Livestock require a minimum amount of fibre and long roughage to maintain their digestive systems. This is sometimes known as the ‘scratch factor’ and stimulates rumination (cud chewing). ➤ When moving livestock onto green pasture their rumen needs time to adjust to a new feed type. ➤ Newly growing pasture may not have

adequate fibre levels, therefore it may be better to supplement stock to allow the pasture to establish and develop. ➤ Hungry cattle need to be prevented from gorging themselves on pastures that may have potential to cause nitrate poisoning or bloat. ➤ If feeding grain or pellets with too little roughage, acidosis or grain poisoning can occur.

Plus as we move further into winter, hay may be needed to reduce grass tetany risks and allows a way of administering Causmag.

Another key reason to feed roughage is it helps keep livestock warm since the fermentation and breakdown of cellulose creates heat energy.

If livestock don’t have enough roughage, the weight will melt off as they consume body fat to create energy for warmth.

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PAGE 6—‘Silage’, July, 2015

silage making

What is your baled silage saying? aled silage is B expensive enough without pulling the

wrapping off to find mouldy and/or unpleasant-smelling silage inside when feeding it out six to 12 months later.

However, just like a carcase competition, farmers and contractors can learn a lot when the plastic ‘skin’ comes off.

Whenever the ensiling process has been compromised (for example, a punctured plastic seal, baled too wet or too dry), dry matter (DM) and nutrient losses will occur, as well as animal health issues occasionally. These losses may appear to be small but are usually far greater than first thought. The extra effort to prevent, avoid or repair problems is well worthwhile financially.

Understanding a simple ‘act of nature’ equation can be useful in determining problems in baled (and forage harvested) silage: Silage + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + Water + Heat produced.

Freshly mown grass, silage sealed with damaged plastic film, and silage at opening/feeding out also have the same result when

exposed to air (oxygen): carbon dioxide, water and heat are produced.

When determining a problem, if mould is present, air is usually — or has been — present also. If the bales themselves or the plastic film is obviously wetter than expected, or wetter than when wrapped, the silage is probably breaking down inside and producing this excess water which can be seen. Carbon dioxide will have been produced but not seen.

Heat is sometimes produced, but often not felt because generally it has escaped before being detected.

Failed baled silage can be due to: ➤ incorrect dry matter content at baling; ➤ wrapping/sealing problems; ➤ damage to the plastic seal; ➤ quality of the plastic film; and/or ➤ pests.

Incorrect DM content at baling

If DM content is too high, mould growth can occur in the bale.

With round bales, material that is baled too dry (more than 50 to 55 per

Failed silage can cost producers a lot of money. cent DM) cannot be compacted enough to expel excess air. This entrapped air will allow plant respiration and aerobic (requiring oxygen) microbial activity to continue, leading to DM and quality losses. A certain amount of mould (and yeast) growth may also occur depending on the quantity of the trapped air.

The problem is dramatically compounded in over-dry

bales if the plastic wrap is holed, because the air can enter more quickly and further into the bale.

Wrapping/sealing problems

Unevenly shaped bales: Despite bales being correctly wrapped with four layers at 50 per cent overlap and 55 per cent stretch, air will still very slowly enter the bale over time. These

losses are minimal over 12 months, sometimes longer.

However odd-shaped bales will not have the minimum of four layers of plastic over the entire surface of the bale.

Underlapping of the film will occur, which will allow air to enter the bale at a much higher rate where the film is three layers instead of four.

To expose or verify underlapping for the lighter-

coloured films, cut out a square section (roughly 30 cm square) of the suspect area, and hold it up to the light. Carefully pry apart the film and count the number of layers in the lighter zone.

Solution: Ensure bales are square or slightly convex in shape. Apply extra wrap over the underlapped sections. ➤ Continued on page 7.

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‘Silage’, July, 2015—PAGE 7

silage making ➤ Continued from page 6.

spiked area and also breaking the tack (stickiness) on the plastic film, which aids in the sealing process.

Research has shown that silage grabs or grips are much gentler on the wrap, as long as they are used carefully.

Pre-stretcher issues The film passes through a pre-stretcher to ensure the film forms an airtight seal on the bale.

Poorly serviced prestretchers may over-stretch or under-stretch the film. If the film is not stretched enough, is over-stretched, or the film runs through the pre-stretcher the wrong way, then the seal will be inadequate.

With the advent of prestretched films onto the market, separate gear sets were required for these new films. In the event of a machine being on-sold, or the correct gears being lost or forgotten to be exchanged, sealing problems are the result.

Dust and rain will settle between the film layers and will prevent a good seal forming.

Unused plastic rolls stored in the sun's heat during the day’s harvesting will not ‘neck down’ or stretch as far as they were designed to.

Solution: Service the prestretcher regularly. Use the correct gearing for the specific plastic wrap. Store unused rolls away from direct heat and avoid dust and moisture getting between the film layers at wrapping.

Plastic film quality

Checking silage making equipment can improve the quality of the end product.

Plastic wrap is damaged Holes in plastic film: The drier the forage is, the larger the hole and the higher the ambient temperature will be.

The longer a hole is left unpatched, the greater the losses in quality will be.

Make no mistake, even a very small hole will quickly lead to large DM and quality losses if left unsealed for too long.

Sometimes pin-sized holes will occur in plastic rolls which have been

removed from their protective box/wrap and are moving freely in the back of a ute, more so if there is sand or gravel on the ute floor.

Although lucerne or cereal stalks might protrude from the bale holes and seemingly act as a plug against air entry, they will soon rot off and allow air in.

Solution: Regularly inspect bales and patch holes as quickly as possible using repair tape specifically designed for plastic wrap.

Before applying the

patch, clean and dry the holed area, cut the tape to length before applying and apply a similar coloured tape to that of the bale wrap. Avoid doing this in hot weather.

Transportation of bales Spiking wrapped bales for transportation leaves large holes in the plastic film, as well as in the centre of the bale itself.

If the bale is moved roughly, the whole bale will lose its shape, leaving a larger hole around the

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The quality of film varies between companies and sometimes even between manufacturing runs.

Most plastic film is manufactured to a thickness of about 25 micron, although some is now manufactured a bit thicker or thinner. These films are thin compared to sheet plastic (25 cp 100 – 200 micron), so those produced with less than desirable quality control can vary substantially in thickness.

Some European countries use negligible or low rates of UV inhibitor in their film because they do not experience the great intensity of solar radiation that Australia does, and therefore have little problem with film breakdown.

Australian conditions demand the highest level of protection for our climate, however after the United Kingdom and European harvest is completed the excess film is often

exported to Australia for our harvest.

Some of these films are of the highest quality, some are not.

Solution: Use films from reputable manufacturers and those who are prepared to at least discuss any problems which may arise, many of which are often not caused by the film itself.

Pests

There are many causes of holes in baled silage wrap: birds, vermin, wildlife, cattle, domestic pets, children and tree branches can all cause holes in films.

The grain in whole crop cereal silage baled at the soft dough stage is a beacon to vermin, for example.

Solution: Try to control pests as much as possible.

Where possible, place the bales on sand or bare soil.

Leave gaps between bale rows to allow for easier inspection and repair. Put baits in place before any vermin start to appear.

Place hay net wrap along the tops of bales, preferably on top of tyres, because birds hate to have their claws entangled. String humming wire over the tops of bales and thread through the handles of plastic drums half filled with water. Always ensure fences are stockproof.

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PAGE 8—‘Silage’, July, 2015

silage making

Tigo loaders were first choice arrad Byrnes has built his JAgriculture contracting business, JJB Contracting, from

the ground up during the past decade.

In 2004, Mr Byrnes started out by hiring his father’s tractor to go baling, and since then he has built up his business to the point where he purchased two Lely Tigo PR 60 loader wagons last year.

Mr Byrnes ran another brand of loader wagons for four years but shopped around when it came time to replace them.

He said he quickly realised the Lely Tigo was a front-runner. ‘‘The Tigo has better cut length.

I was looking at another brand but the Tigo is definitely the new benchmark. ‘‘The grass goes through them real easy. It just flows through.

Our Fendt pulls them no worries and we go over a lot of steep hills. ‘‘They have excellent manoeuvrability and hang onto the hills really well.’’

The Lely Tigo comes in two series: the PR with capacities of 45 m3 to 80 m3 at medium compaction, and the XR wagon which has capacities from 65 m3 to 100 m3.

Mr Byrnes’ Lely Tigo PR 60s have a 1.9 m pick-up.

The camless pick-up has seven tine bars with tines spaced 54 mm apart. This ensures clean and efficient crop pick-up.

The rotational speeds of the rotor and pick-up are co-ordinated to ensure excellent crop flow.

Jarrad Byrnes with his Lely Tigo PR 60.

The pick-up also has a crop roller and castor guide wheels. The crop roller improves crop pick-up and the height adjustable guide wheels relieve the load on the pick-up when turning.

The seven-point chopping rotor in both the Tigo PR and XR ranges is 800 mm in diameter and the fingers are 25 mm wide giving a total surface area of 1.0 m2. This wide surface area contributes to the low power requirement and is very gentle on the crop.

The knives are serrated and made of high quality steel. They are located between the rotor fingers and ensure a consistent quality of cut.

The knives are hydraulically engaged and disengaged and the length of chop can be as little as 37 mm. The chopping unit swings out to the side and knives can be removed easily.

A major feature of the Lely Tigo is the moveable bulkhead. It can pivot through 80 degrees and

plays an important role in assisting the floor chains to unload.

When the bulkhead pivots and moves forward, it provides an extra 6 m3 of space. Moving the bulkhead also brings the load’s centre of gravity forward for more even weight distribution.

Tigo wagons can be automatically or manually unloaded.

When unloading begins, the Tigo’s tailgate opens out to fully clear the load without obstruction.

As the floor chains activate to

unload, the bulkhead pushes rearwards to reduce pressure on the chains and gearbox. The floor chains operate with two speeds during unloading. Once the load is moving, the chains shift into the second faster speed. ‘‘The grass just falls out the back perfectly. It is very fast to unload. I reckon it is more economical than baling,’’ Mr Byrnes said.

Depending on the model, Tigo wagons have a chassis with two or three axles. Axle options include hydro-pneumatic suspension and automatic level adjustment.

This ensures the wagon stays parallel with the slope. This also allows for an on-board weighing system. Various specifications of flotation tyres are available to add to the machine’s stability and to minimise soil compaction.

Mr Byrnes also appreciates the Tigo’s low maintenance. ‘‘All we have to do is grease up, sharpen up and off you go again. It is that easy. It saves us a lot of time both in the paddock and on maintenance.’’

All of the Lely Tigo’s functions can be controlled from within the cab with an easy-to-use monitor.

The monitor is ISOBUS compatible and it can be used in parallel with the Tigo camera.

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‘Silage’, July, 2015—PAGE 11

silage making

Weed fight’s new war chest he Grains Research and T Development Corporation and Bayer CropScience have

announced a scientific collaboration to find new technologies to fight the crippling cost of weeds.

In what will be its biggest research and development partnership to date, the GRDC will contribute $45 million over five years and receive royalties and milestone payments on products derived from this research.

The joint venture, Herbicide Innovation Partnership, will address the global slow-down in weed-control research over the past two decades and the consequent absence of new herbicides to replace those succumbing to herbicide resistance.

Australia has the second highest number of herbicide-resistant weeds in the world — sitting just behind the United States — however, global research into this serious problem has stalled because of the scope of the problem and the complexity of the science.

It is hoped this new collaboration will prove a circuitbreaker and deliver new practices and technologies that will give growers effective options.

The current cost of weeds to the

❝A healthy, profitable grains industry is not just in the best interests of our growers, it’s in the best interest of all Australians.❞ GRDC chair Richard Clark grains industry in Australia alone is estimated at almost $3.3 billion a year.

The GRDC/Bayer CropScience venture represents a new approach in bringing together public sector and private sector resources to tackle herbicide research.

Weeds, particularly herbicideresistant weeds, are impacting on crop yields everywhere and are a serious threat to food security generally.

The joint venture, announced last month, will pursue the discovery and development of new weed-management practices and technologies for managing resistant weeds.

The collaboration also includes universities through a postdoctoral program to train Australian researchers in advanced industrial research techniques.

GRDC chair Richard Clark said the agreement was an opportunity to confront the costly weeds

challenge and add as many tools to the integrated weedmanagement toolbox as possible. ‘‘This partnership reaffirms the GRDC’s commitment to improving grower profit as its highest priority,’’ Mr Clark said. ‘‘A healthy, profitable grains industry is not just in the best interests of our growers, it’s in the best interest of all Australians.’’

Bayer CropScience head of small molecules research Axel Trautwein said the increasing resistance of weeds to major herbicide classes was endangering broadacre crop production globally.

Dr Trautwein said new weed control solutions were a research priority. ‘‘But the challenges to solve those problems are too large for one company, university or even country,’’ he said. ‘‘We need a network of partners with complementary specialisations. ‘‘This co-operation with the

The Herbicide Innovation Partnership collaboration was signed last month at Parliament House in Canberra, by (from left) Bayer CropScience’s head of research and development Adrian Percy, Grains Research and Development Corporation chair Richard Clark and Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Picture: Jez Rozdarz GRDC and Australian universities is an example of a global network that will deliver real benefits to Australian agriculture.’’

Under the venture, the GRDC will support the expansion of weeds research capacities at Bayer CropScience in Frankfurt, Germany.

About 40 extra researchers — many to be recruited in Australia — will boost the ability to identify

and explore advanced technologies.

A focus of this partnership is for Australian weeds to be included in primary screening in Germany and early assessments of new chemical molecules in Australia.

Fourteen Australian weeds will be included in the early assessment, including rye-grass, wild radish, feathertop Rhodes grass and fleabane.

Kuhn pre-season deals now on Visit us today to get your silage underway!

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PAGE 12—‘Silage’, July, 2015

silage making

Strong demand for Aussie hay ontinued worldwide C demand for Australian hay throughout the first

half of 2015 has resulted in stock of export hay running low.

This represents a great opportunity for farmers to become involved in growing export hay. ‘‘Strong demand for Australian hay has seen some exporters starting to run low on oaten hay,’’ Australian Fodder Industry Association executive officer Darren Keating said. ‘‘I expect that there will only be low volumes of export grade oaten hay carried over into the new crop season,’’ he said. ‘‘This provides a great opportunity for farmers to be growing hay with exporters across all states all looking to secure hay for the 2015 season. ‘‘Adding hay production into cropping systems gives a range of benefits including weed control, risk management from both frost and grain price fluctuations, and a profitable crop in its own right.’’ Australia has a wellestablished export hay industry, however, there are

NEW

‘‘Currently the only Australian hay that can be exported to China is oaten hay which has to be processed in a facility accredited by the Chinese Government. ‘‘This means, based on advice from the Department of Agriculture, no paddockbaled hay can be directly sent into China at any time.’’ AFIA is currently working with the Federal Agriculture Department on getting access for a range of other Australian hay types including wheaten hay, barley hay, cereal straw and lucerne hay.

The Australian Fodder Industry Association is the peak body for the fodder industry.

Each year AFIA hosts the National Fodder Conference for members and stakeholders. Anyone interested in getting more involved in the fodder industry is encouraged to attend the conference in Ballarat from August 5 to 7.

Stocks of Australian export hay are running low following high demand. still opportunities for growth.

Recent growth in demand for Australian oaten hay from China has created new opportunities for growers to

get involved in export hay production.

In 2012, Australia exported more than 18 000 tonnes of hay to China. By 2014 this figure grew to

more than 127 000 tonnes and exports for the first half of 2015 have remained strong. ‘‘The growth in exports of hay to China is good news to

the Australian export hay industry,’’ Mr Keating said. ‘‘However, there are still a few challenges to deal with when it comes to market access in China.

➤ For more information on the fodder conference and the Australian export hay industry, plus a report on the current market situation outlook for export hay, go to www.afia.org.au

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‘Silage’, July, 2015—PAGE 13

silage making

Selecting crops for silage use ilage can be produced Seither from crops

grown specifically to harvest as silage or from pastures or forage crops when there is a genuine surplus of forage that cannot be grazed.

Selecting the most suitable pasture or crop for silage production is dictated by climatic and agronomic constraints and by the silage system to be used; for example, maize and grain sorghum crops are not recommended for baled silage.

From paddock to successful silage Maximising the production potential of silage begins with the choice and management of the parent forage.

Consider the following when selecting the most suitable pastures and crops for silage production: ➤ What best fits into my

TIPS FOR SUCCESS ➤ Select pasture or crops that produce high quality forage and have high yield potential. ➤ Harvest at the recommended growth stage. ➤ Wilt to the target dry matter range as quickly as possible. whole-farm program — a pasture or forage crop with potential for grazing before and after harvest, or a crop that will produce a one-off silage cut? Is buying a neighbour’s standing crop or pasture an option? ➤ What are my yield and quality targets? ➤ Is my present silage system suited to the forage type chosen? Am I prepared to change my silage system?

Good agronomic

Tapex improves (3&&'8 683&<$ࣅ=-;@U

management of the parent crop or pasture is important in achieving high forage yields of high nutritive value.

Poor quality forage will never become good quality silage.

Growth stage at harvest has a major impact on forage quality and yield.

Wilt to the target dry matter range as quickly as possible.

The forage dry matter and quality losses are minimised if dry matter targets are reached, ideally within 24 hours but certainly within 48 hours.

When forage is stored at dry matter levels below 30 per cent, there is a risk of quality loss through effluent production.

Good compaction in storage becomes difficult when the dry matter content is at the higher end of the range.

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Change your baling style If you want to boost your output by up to 20% with up to 5% denser bales, the Roll-Belt baler is the natural choice.

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• All-new pick-up design featuring a brand new feeding logic guaranteeing clean Àelds in super-fast time.

• Standard dual density systems ensures uniformly dense bales and provides up to 5% denser bales.

• Four Ultra-wide endless self-cleaning belts reducing losses while maintaining contact with the crop.

• Intutive IntelliView III Colour Touchscreen monitor.

• Drop Floor for ease of operation.

Ring the sales team to enquire about the use of net replacement Àlm in the RB balers.

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92 Karook St, Cobram P: 5871 3333

PAGE 14—‘Silage’, July, 2015

silage making

Red fleet is a part of the family ontractor Wayne C Marshall loves his Massey Ferguson tractors

for their engines, their economy and the uniformity of their cabs.

Mr Marshall has a fleet of nine Massey Fergusons, including three 15-year-old tractors that he just can’t bear to part with.

Mr Marshall and his wife Judy operate Bundy Ag from their home at Maffra in Gippsland.

They offer a range of services including bulk silage, hay cutting and baling, full cultivation and transport.

Silage is the primary focus of the business, which was formed 15 years ago when Mr Marshall left the family business to start out on his own.

His most recent Massey Ferguson purchases include an MF 6614, an MF 7622 and an MF 8680. ‘‘We’ve had Masseys for 15 years and what I like about them is their accessibility of service, their economy, and I’m happy with the AGCO Power engine,’’ Mr Marshall said.

The Marshalls bought their MF 6614 last September for hay and silage production and for operating their round baler. ‘‘It pulls the baler

Maffra’s Marshall family reckons it’s on a good thing and sticking to it with a fleet of Massey Ferguson tractors. beautifully and it also does drilling. It’s fitted with a loader and does a variety of loader work and earthworks,’’ Mr Marshall said. ‘‘It’s the first time I’ve gone back to a four-cylinder engine for a long time. The economy was a big part of that decision and it’s very cheap to run. It’s also very manoeuvrable and has a good turning circle. It’s just

a good basic tractor that’s cheap to run.’’

Mr Marshall bought the 215 hp MF 7622 about 18 months ago and uses it to pull his loader wagon during the silage season. He particularly likes it for the Dyna-VT variable transmission. ‘‘It’s very good and it’s also economical. We use it for a lot of cultivation work, mainly discing and ripping.

With both those tractors we are using AdBlue because it’s going to be law soon with our diesel rebates. That was a big consideration,’’ he said. ‘‘The other thing is the whole range of Massey Ferguson tractors have the same cabin layouts. ‘‘It’s very easy with staff as they’re familiar with the controls and can go from one tractor to another.’’

The third new tractor in the Marshalls’ fleet is the six-cylinder 320 hp MF 8680, which was purchased six months ago. It is mainly used for loader wagon silage and earthmoving. ‘‘It also runs on a laser bucket for irrigation layouts and it is very good,’’ Mr Marshall said. ‘‘I am very happy with it. It has high horsepower and very quick road speed. We are running it with a Topcon GPS guidance system.’’

Their full fleet of tractors includes two MF 7495s, which are also used on the loader wagons, an MF 6475, which is used on a round baler and for loader work, two old MF 4270s which are Mr Marshall’s original tractors and have 12 000 hours on the clock each, and an MF 6255 which is also 15 years old and is used for ripping and discing. ‘‘I can’t get rid of them,’’ Mr Marshall said of the older machines. ‘‘They have sentimental value. ‘‘I’ve also got a Valtra 202 with a butterfly mower conditioner, which is four years old. It’s running the AGCOPower engine as well and is from the same stable as Massey Ferguson, but I chose that tractor for its long wheel-base.’’

Mr Marshall is impressed with the advances in technology Massey Ferguson has made in recent years. ‘‘The tractors have come a long way. I’ve seen big changes in the last six or seven years with what we can do with them and the time and fuel savings,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re a pleasure to drive and the operators can hop out of them at the end of the day and still feel okay.’’

Mr and Mrs Marshall buy their Massey Fergusons through Donalda Motor Service at Maffra.

Mr Marshall said a big consideration for sticking with Massey Ferguson was the fantastic support they received from them and from AGCO. ‘‘They’re very good with their back-up. They go beyond the call of duty.

They’ve been very good to me since I started off in business,’’ Mr Marshall said. ‘‘AGCO is based in Melbourne and we’re very happy with their technical support. If we have any problems, they never put a foot wrong. That’s the reason I’ve stuck with them.’’

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198-200 Numurkah Road 33-41 Albion Street

03 5821 3299 03 5852 1977

‘Silage’, July, 2015—PAGE 15

silage making

Award-winning cutting action LAAS has introduced its awardC winning Max Cut cutterbar across its entire range of Disco mowers and

mower-conditioners.

CLAAS now offers a total of 28 frontmounted, rear-mounted and trailed models with operating widths from 2.6 m to 9.1 m.

Its flagship model, the CLAAS Disco 9200 front-and-rear mower-conditioner combination, was recognised with a prestigious European Machine of the Year award at the SIMA agricultural trade fair in Paris earlier this year.

CLAAS Harvest Centre Greenline product manager Luke Wheeler said the new models incorporated numerous innovations that made everyday work easier.

These include clearly marked setting indicators, Kennfixx hydraulic couplings, enhanced driveline with a redesigned headstock to facilitate hitching and an optional hydraulic transport catch. ‘‘These improvements were developed in close collaboration with customers throughout the world,’’ Mr Wheeler said. ‘‘The main focus was meeting their requirements for performance, efficiency, ease of operation, maintenance, transport, safety, reliability and longevity. ‘‘These are professional machines engineered to deliver a perfect result under all operating conditions.’’

The new Max Cut cutterbar features an innovative, wave-shaped design that allows the cutting disc modules to be set much further forward than the former P Cut cutterbar. ‘‘In combination with the specially-formed wear inserts, this creates an enlarged cutting area and ensures optimal cutting quality, efficiency and durability,’’ Mr Wheeler said. ‘‘In turn, the new inserts have different geometries that have been optimised as each pair of blades moves towards or away from each other. ‘‘The cutterbar has an exceptionally high level of torsional flexibility thanks to a special bolting process that achieves the strength of welded seams. ‘‘The extra-wide cutterbar skids guide dirt and foreign material backwards and guarantee a clean finish, minimising wear and protecting pasture cover. ‘‘The drive train of the Max Cut cutterbar is designed so that it can be run from 850 rpm, reducing fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent.’’

Max Cut also incorporates the proven quick blade change system and Safety Link safety module. ‘‘In the event of a collision, the module shears at a pre-determined breaking point,’’ Mr Wheeler said.

The Max Cut cutterbar is now in all CLAAS Disco mowers and mower-conditioners. ‘‘The cutting disc is held in the module by a bolt and cannot fly off. ‘‘The module can be replaced quickly and easily and the mower unit is therefore quickly ready for use again.’’

Disco mowers are available in five operational variants. ‘‘The simpler Trend models are operated using the tractor control devices without a control terminal and can be incorporated into the tractor’s headland management,’’ Mr Wheeler said.

Contour models incorporate active float hydro-pneumatic suspension.

The three other variants — Business, Duo and Autoswather models — are controlled using either the Operator or Communicator II control terminals.

RISE UP WITH MAHINDRA THIS SEASON

➤ For more information on the range of CLAAS Disco mowers and the new Max Cut cutterbars, phone CLAAS Harvest Centre Echuca on 5480 1855.

GET INTO A MAHINDRA 9500 4WD WITH LOADER FOR JUST

$43,032 EXC GST $47,335 INC GST (INCLUSIVE OF $5K FACTORY REBATE).

FEATURES INCLUDE: SELF LEVELLING F.E.L. 1,000 KG LIFT, CANOPY, GRILL GUARD, R.O.P.S AND PRIMARY PRODUCERS REGO. DELIVERY WITHIN 50KMS OF SHEPPARTON CBD.

Get into Taigs to experience everything the Mahindra brand has to offer.

Ph: 03 5821 9811 The new CLAAS models incorporate numerous innovations that make everyday work easier.

Wayne Aylett, Sales Mob: 0418 573 417 6 Wheeler Street, Shepparton www.taigbros.com.au

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PAGE 16—‘Silage’, July, 2015