1. Equipment – If you use a contractor, contact him with your expected dates. Tell him what kind of inoculant you will be using and give any specific instructions on applying. If you are using your own equipment, tune it up, sharpen it up, and make sure all safety guards and placards are attached and visible. are the inoculant tanks clean and will attach snugly to the machine?

Details, details: Safety belts, safety glasses, PTO guards, reminders to shut down equipment when unplugging it, a place for driver water jug, clean windows, a loaded grease gun and fire extinguisher.

2. Pad or Storage Area – Clean up old feed, trash, tire piles, old silage plastic. Level off dirt areas allowing correct slope away from the pile or bunker area. Fill any holes. If you are working on cement or asphalt, clean it up. Prepare to have a water vehicle to keep the dust down. Packing makes a difference - less shrink!

Details, details: Control the flow of material to the pit based on the weight of the pack tractor(s) and use the “800 rule”, a quick formula. For example, two 40,000 pound pack tractors are in use 100% of the time, (total of 80,000 pounds) divided by 800 = 100 tons per hour is the flow rate needed for proper packing. (See our next entry for more detailed information).

Figure out ahead of time what your piles will look like. Make them as close to drive over style as possible with a 3:1 slope. This translates not only to better feed, it is so much safer for all on the dairy.

3. Inoculant – Order the inoculant you and your nutritionist or forage consultant have decided upon and take delivery. Pay attention to storage and handling instructions. Inoculants are alive, don’t kill them with heat. If you are using different formulations, be sure it is clear which one goes on which fields.

Details, details: Keep inoculant in a freezer or refrigerator until mixed. Family members will appreciate you purchasing a “storage unit” exclusively for inoculant and silage samples, if you haven’t already done so. (Hoping Ron reads this!).

4. Covering – Order the covering you have decided to use and be clear in your instructions. Use brand names to identify exactly what materials you want to use. Check your figures to make sure you have enough. Covering with black white over Silostop

Details, details: Here again is where the drive over piles, the extra pack tractor for correct density come in. Making drive over piles and using gravel bags to hold down the plastic makes sense. When you have spent all this time and money to make your best forage ever, why skimp on the structure and protection you need?

5. Communicate – At the risk of repeating yourself, be clear in your thoughts and instructions. Explain in short why jobs are done the way you ask that they be done. It is easier for people to carry out directions when they understand why they are doing their tasks a certain way. It also provides great satisfaction to do the job as expected. At the least, explain that if we make our forage the right way, there will be less pitching, less spoiled feed, and the dairy will be safer.

Details, details: Make a phone list. Include your cell number, the nutritionist, the chopping contractor, the covering contractor, any crew bosses, and your employees that will be working the harvest. Also, put a reminder that if someone gets hurt, call 911. Add the number for your local fire department, sheriff, and hospital. Make a phone list for everyone on your team. Put it on card stock so it can go in the wallet. Hand this list out at your team meeting.

One last word – SAFETY. Please contact us at kub4cows@qnis.net or call Ron Kuber at 559-779-5961 for your copy of our Silage Safety booklet written by Keith and Ruthie Bolsen. Use it as a kickoff training meeting for your staff.

Connor Marketing, Inc.
Ron and Connie Kuber
559-779-5961