Forage Storage

The dollars and sense in silage bagging

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Improved feed management involves a lot more than how to store it. Producers can save thousands of dollars each year while enhancing nutrition, herd health and milk production.

Maximizing dairy and livestock production with bagged silage

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this Q&A, a leading industry expert explains how modern bagging systems improve nutrition, performance and overall operational efficiency.

Why didn’t it ferment?

kebr@novonesis.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

When silage analyses show atypical acid profiles or pH behavior, the assumption is often that fermentation failed. In most cases, fermentation occurred, but microbial activity was redirected by moisture, substrate availability or oxygen dynamics.

Don’t let it go to waste: Storing hay correctly for efficient feeding

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

November brings a shift in priorities for forage producers and livestock owners alike. As temperatures decrease and precipitation increases, safeguarding baled hay becomes a vital investment for winter nutrition.

Mitigating mycotoxins: The three-legged milking stool approach

kebr@novonesis.com — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Challenges with growing seasons, weather-related harvest delays and subpar silage storage can lead to mycotoxins in stored forages. Our three-legged milking stool for mitigating mycotoxins includes: a research-proven silage inoculant, binders from multiple classes added to the TMR and effective probiotics fed to the cows to help them help themselves.

Mycotoxin risks within the 2024 corn crop

mhawkins@alltech.com — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Corn silage has a risk from multiple mycotoxins, with type B trichothecenes being the greatest risk. Stored corn grains may be at greater risk due to damaged kernels and a higher percentage of foreign matter.

Silage pile top layer: Silage or compost?

kebr@novonesis.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

We’ve all seen it. Top-layer spoilage – a rind of discolored, decomposing feed often laden with yeasts, molds and mycotoxins on the top of your silage bunker or pile.

3 ways you can practice effective hay management for a healthier and happier herd

kaydence.michalsky@arrowquip.com — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

With increasing prices affecting every aspect of daily life, finding ways to save money without compromising quality is essential.

Protecting the hay you have harvested

djunders@wisc.edu — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

With hay prices ranging from $95 per ton for Grade 1 (125 to 150 relative feed quality [RFQ]) round bales to $190 per ton for Prime (greater than 151 RFQ) large square bales, hay is a valuable commodity on farms. We already have the labor and expense into producing the hay, but storage and feeding have a great deal to do with how much of harvested hay is actually consumed by animals.

Building a strong foundation for your feed program begins with high-quality silage

kzm175@psu.edu — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The foundation of most diets fed to dairy and beef cattle includes forages, but making them into high-quality silage that can be fed year-round is a challenge.

Maximizing forage quality: Key considerations for successful ensiling

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Effective management, including the use of proven inoculants to manage the ensiling process at the microbiological level, safeguards your investment, maximizes time and resources, and is critical for optimizing your bottom line.

Bagged silage: A vital tool for feed management

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The most fundamental beef cow feeding strategy remains the use of pasture, which is considered the lowest-cost feed resource.

Preserving hay quality: Tips for your dairy operation

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Forage quality is a crucial consideration on a dairy, impacting the success and profitability of your operation.

Reducing the risk of clostridial fermentation in silage

usjasn@chr-hansen.com — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:03 -0400

Clostridial fermentation can be detected in silages by its unpleasant smell, slimy appearance and dark coloration. One reason for the nasty odor is butyric acid, which has a strong "rancid butter" smell.

2023 U.S. harvest analysis identifies variable mycotoxin risk

mhawkins@alltech.com — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The 2023 corn crop was challenged by a wide variation of environmental challenges. Drought in the Southwest and western Corn Belt to late-season rainfall in the Ohio Valley and eastern Corn Belt, the weather challenged the crop.

Simple steps to improve milk and component yields through silage

hannah.tucker@novusint.com — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

There are three areas where consistency is necessary to optimize feed management: inventory, mixing of the total mixed ration (TMR) and the feedbunk.

When winter comes …

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Ever feel like you're forgetting something? We know the task of preparing your farm and equipment for winter can be daunting, so we asked Progressive Forage readers around the country what was on their list to get done before winter hits. Hopefully something on their list reminds you of something that can help you out before the freezing temperatures hit.

Ensiling and preparing to feed weather-challenged crops

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Erratic weather patterns across the U.S. have stressed many silage crops in the field. Some regions and forage crops have experienced prolonged high temperatures and drought.

[Podcast] The cost of uncovered silage

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 09:31:43 -0400

This podcast episode is with Jared Coley, of Setac, a silage and feed covering company in Idaho's Magic Valley.

You can’t control the weather, but you can control how hot your feed is

bpamp@provimi-na.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:11:38 -0400

Consider this: 85% of farmers are applying some sort of forage preservative either at harvest or in the total mixed ration (TMR) wagon. Using an inoculant at harvest along with harvesting and ensiling practices can constitute a proactive approach.

Healthy cows face hidden aflatoxin challenges

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:30:45 -0400

It comes as a surprise when some of your herd’s top performers drop off in milk. Nothing has changed regarding cow management, and you verify the diet is still high quality.

Stabilize milk production this fall

askidmore@lallemand.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:24:48 -0400

It’s common for dairy producers to experience a “fall slump,” or a time when cows fail to reach their full production potential. Producers also might notice decreased feed intake or loose manure.

Shopping your silage piles

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:01:52 -0400

When following a recipe, it's often necessary to grab the correct ingredients at the store in order to get the optimal desired outcome. Similar to whipping up a cake or mixing your favorite dry rub, creating a dairy ration requires specific ingredients.

Minimizing wild yeast in 2022 silages

ben.jensen@hubbardfeeds.com — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 13:25:14 -0400

Silage is not immune to the many challenges we face on the farm, and the risks begin before it even becomes silage. Agronomists do their part in helping you grow an excellent crop that should yield excellent feed for the coming year.

Individual vs. in-line bale wrapping

ben.craker@kuhn.com — Mon, 09 May 2022 18:51:17 -0400

There is growing interest in wrapping hay as farmers look for solutions to put up quality hay in tight weather windows. Wrapping high-moisture hay bales can reduce the time hay needs to dry, minimizing the risks of a crop getting rained on.

Correct inventory calculations

ben.jensen@hubbardfeeds.com — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:00:01 -0400

For all businesses, inventory is a crucial part of the day-to-day and year-to-year operations. Without product to sell – or worse yet, parts or ingredients to make salable items – a company cannot survive.

How long will baleage keep?

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Baleage (as opposed to harvesting forage as bales or silage) has advantages for many producers.

Frost damage on corn 101

maximeleduc@gmail.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:08:06 -0400

Factors influencing FROST DAMAGE ON CORN Between 32°F and 36°F:

The fermentation shrink endgame

cliff_ocker@rockriverlab.com — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 21:19:51 -0400

Every year, fermentation shrink, or forage dry matter (DM) loss, robs farms’ feed inventory without leaving a trace. Poof, tonnage fed comes out short of tonnage stored. Maintaining valuable nutrient content for feedout is a constant battle with the variables that lay waste to ensiled feeds.