Corn silage harvest is one of the most critical times of year on a dairy or beef operation. The feed preserved during this window directly impacts cow health, milk production, and overall profitability for the coming year. Proper planning and coordination can make the difference between high-quality, hygienic forage and spoiled, nutritionally deficient feed. Here are essential steps farmers should take to ensure a safe, efficient, and successful silage harvest.
1. Review Silage Safety with the Entire Team
Before any chopping begins, it’s vital to hold a pre-harvest safety meeting. Go over key safety protocols with everyone involved—this includes family members, employees, custom operators, and even truck drivers.
Key silage safety reminders:
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Stay away from the feedout face: No one should ever stand near or under a silage face. It can collapse without warning and has caused serious injuries and fatalities.
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Wear hi-vis vests: Visibility saves lives. All team members working around moving equipment or high-traffic areas should wear high-visibility safety gear.
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Mark high-traffic areas: Use flags, cones, or temporary fencing to clearly denote traffic lanes and no-go zones around the bunker, pile, and roadways.
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Designate a spotter when trucks or tractors are backing up or unloading. Communication and visibility are key.
2. Coordinate Chop Length and Packing Strategy
Silage quality starts at the chopper. Farmers should coordinate closely with their own crew or custom harvest operator to ensure the chop length and processing specifications match their storage and feeding goals.
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Chop length: Aim for ⅜ to ¾ inch theoretical length of cut (TLC), depending on kernel processing and forage moisture. Work with your nutritionist to determine the ideal size for digestibility.
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Packing density: A minimum of 15 lbs. of dry matter per cubic foot is recommended. This requires enough weight and tractor passes to remove as much oxygen as possible from the pile.
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Packing speed: The rate of packing must keep up with the delivery of fresh material. A good rule of thumb is one tractor for every 60-80 tons of silage delivered per hour.
Clear communication between drivers, chopper operators, and those on the packing tractor is essential to keep the pile safe and compact.
3. Covering the Bunker or Pile: Timing and Technique Matter
One of the most overlooked, but crucial, steps is covering the silage. This should be done the same day as chopping and packing whenever possible. Delays allow oxygen to promote spoilage and fungal growth.
To ensure successful covering:
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Plan ahead with adequate labor: Covering a bunker or pile is labor-intensive. Gather a team to help, and train them ahead of time.
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Footwear matters: Have everyone wear sneakers or tennis shoes, which provide better traction and help prevent punctures in the plastic. Work boots can slip or damage the plastic.
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Light the pile: If covering into the evening, make sure you have portable lights or tractor-mounted lighting to ensure safety and efficiency after dark.
4. Choose the Right Cover Materials
Using the proper plastic and covering strategy dramatically improves silage preservation by minimizing oxygen penetration.
Recommended covering system:
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High oxygen barrier (HOB) plastic: Use a premium oxygen barrier film, such as those offered by Silostop. These films drastically reduce air infiltration compared to standard plastic, preserving nutrient quality.
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Secondary protective layer: After the HOB layer, add a black and white 5-mil plastic or a Silostop Anti-UV cover. The Anti-UV option is reusable and provides long-term protection from sunlight and physical damage.
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Weighting: Seal the pile tightly with consistent, heavy coverage. Use Silostop Gravel bags, tire sidewalls, or sand/limestone bags, especially along all seams and edges to eliminate air pockets.
Let the HOB plastic "suck down" on the pile overnight before adding the secondary plastic and weights. This ensures a tighter seal and better fermentation.
Safe Harvest, High-Quality Feed
Silage is more than just feed, it’s a cornerstone of your herd’s health and performance. Taking the time to review safety, coordinate operations, and properly seal the pile pays dividends all year long. A well-run harvest promotes a safe work environment for your team and delivers clean, digestible, and hygienic forage for your animals.
Every detail counts, from chop length and packing pressure to the shoes your crew wears during covering. With planning and teamwork, you can make this year’s corn silage harvest one of your best yet.
