In some beef and dairy operations, one person is responsible for growing, harvesting and storing the silage crop. But in many instances, growing, harvesting and storage management are done on a contract basis, which creates a significant need for effective planning as well as clear communication and coordination among team members responsible for each phase.

Bill Ramsey

Custom hire agreements
Many livestock farmers invest only in capital assets that produce a high rate of return on investment. Large, expensive pieces of farm equipment that may only be used a few days out of the year are, in many cases, unprofitable for one farm to own. Hiring custom operators or contractors who own and operate the equipment can be a way for farmers to avoid large unnecessary costs. A contract agreement is short-term, and the fees are normally for a specified job and time frame. Generally, a contractor provides the machinery and operator, and pays for all ownership and operating costs.

While most farmers who hire out these kinds of contract services are generally satisfied, disagreements can and do arise. In many cases these disagreements are the result of a misunderstanding, lack of a written agreement or not understanding how custom operators "operate." This article is designed to help livestock farmers and custom operators understand the elements necessary for developing and sustaining a successful working relationship.

Do you have a comprehensive silage plan?
Many livestock producers have a detailed silage harvest and storage plan, but some do not. And sometimes the agreements between producers and custom operators lack important details, such as controls, measurements, milestones and accountability. This open, honest communication up front is critical. Decisions made at chopping affect silage quality in the pile and bunker and can lead to lower nutritional value, safety concerns, mold, yeast, excessive shrink, reduced intakes and performance issues.

Start developing your forage plan to reach your forage goals by discussing it with your local resource team. Think critically to identify the key players of your team. For example, your nutritionist can be the most valuable member of your silage chopping crew. Work with your team to clearly identify your nutrition goals, and communicate with your custom harvest crew managers about your silage harvest needs.

Key silage harvest and storage planning considerations

1. Set goals for harvest moisture levels.
2. If forage is purchased, what is the price and base moisture?
3. What is the desired chop length to reach your nutrition goals? How often can chop length be adjusted if necessary?
4. Determine desired level of corn-silage kernel processing. How will this be monitored and by whom?
5. How fast will the forage be harvested and delivered?
6. Who is in charge of harvesting and storage safety training?
7. Who is monitoring the inoculant application? Apply a research-proven, high-quality inoculant that can result in faster, more efficient fermentation, improved dry matter recovery and improved animal performance.
8. Determine desired pack density. Calculate number and weight of pack tractors needed. Bunkers or piles should be packed tightly. Silage should be spread in six-inch layers or less, decreasing in thickness as elevation increases. The thumb rule is to apply 800 pounds of packing weight for every ton per hour of forage delivered to the pile or bunker. The pile should be packed from both back to front and from side-to-side.
9. Do you have the proper storage footprint and space for the quantity of forage to be harvested and stored safely? Many producers try to store more silage than is appropriate for their space, resulting in silage piles or bunkers with side slopes of one-to-one or less and towering 20-25 feet above the ground. The sides of these piles are impossible for tractor operators to pack, and they are unsafe. Shape drive-over piles using a three-to-one ratio.
10. What is your covering process? When covered properly, not only is the dry matter loss reduced by 60 percent from the top 25 cm, but also the feed quality of the remaining entire silage bunker or pile is improved, compared to uncovered piles or bunkers. Use two sheets of plastic or an oxygen barrier film and cover sidewalls.
11. When does the custom operator get paid? Will the custom operator be paid on the day the work is completed, or will the work be billed?
12. Can you implement any controls to help manage silage variability? Poor-quality silage, shrink and variability can greatly limit potential performance. It’s important to know how a 10 percent production loss could affect your bottom line and have a plan in place to make up for any shortfalls.

Once you have discussed and established specific harvest and nutrition goals, you can develop and implement the processes, systems and controls that are necessary for your functional teams. For overall consistency, work toward systemizing the routine and humanizing the exceptions. Pictures, diagrams and charts can go a long way to help develop your work process systems. With open communication in advance, a strong plan and processes in place, you can be that much closer to a successful harvest.  FG

Bill Ramsey
Livestock Information Manager
DuPont Pioneer

References omitted but are available upon request. Send requests to editor@progressiveforage.com.