Silage
Silage is a forage crop that is preserved in succulent condition by a process of fermentation (i.e. under anaerobic conditions). Corn silage (102 million ton); Sorghum silage (4 million ton). Also can use forage grasses (i.e. timothy) and legumes (alfalfa, stover, and soybean). Can be harvested under wet condition. More expensive to make cw hay but has better nutritional value.
Grain harvest at 15%. May be higher if drying is used. Corn silage when grain at 35% moisture. Begin at ¾ milk stage. May start earlier but yield will be lower.
Silage
History derived from process of curing high-moisture or sour hay in 19 th century Germany. Originally used in crop mixtures grown with legumes such as alfalfa and clover. Almost all corn grown in western Europe goes into silage.
Corn is the most common type of silage. Other crops may be ensiled, i.e. triticale, juvenile corn, beet tops, and sunflower. Silage additives can help in the fermentation process (i.e. homofermenter lactic acid bacteria)
Basics of ensiling Relatively high moisture: 60 to 70% Earlier harvest for corn or other cereal requires swathing, and wilt or drying. Air tight storage: Tower, trench, bunker, tubing. The supply of oxygen is limited and fermentation brings about the decomposition of carbohydrates into acetic, butyric and lactic acids. Narrow cross-section to length for sequential access.
The closeness with which the fodder is packed determines the nature of the resulting silage by regulating the chemical reactions that occur in the stack. When closely packed the product is named sour silage. If the fodder is unchaffed and loosely packed, it is called sweet silage. In some cases, sour silage acquires a most disagreeable odor, but it keeps better than sweet silage when removed from the silo.
Basics of ensiling-timeline 2 to 4 hrs respiration consumes oxygen. 2 to 3 days fermentation replaces 60 to 70% of atmosphere with CO 2. Sugars converted alcohol then to lactic acid. 2 to 15 days Temperature in silo rises to 100 o F 12 to 17 days Fermentation process will be complete.
Cows Yearling cattle Sheep Fattening cattle 30 to 40 lb/day 15 to 20 lb/day 4 to 5 lb/day 25 to 35 lb /1000 lb live wt.
Crop % Moist Crude Protein Ash Carbohydrates Corn silage 60 8.3 7.1 59 Alfalfa silage 65 20.1 8.4 38
Silage
Practice Reason Benefit Minimize drying time Chop at correct length (3/8 th inch); fill silo quickly; seal silo carefully Leave silo closed at least 14 days Unload 2-6 incher/d. Discard deteriorated silage Reduce respiration Minimize exposure to oxygen Allows complete fermentation. Stay ahead of spoilage Avoid animal health problems Reduce nutrient and energy losses; more sugar for fermentation; lower silage ph. Reduce nutrients and energy losses; more sugar for fermentation; less browning; faster ph decline; better aerobic stability; less chance of listeria; less protein solubilization. Lower silage ph; more fermentation acids; better aerobic stability; less chance of listeria. Limit aerobic deterioration. Prevent toxic poisoning; mycotic infections; prevent listeriosis; clostridial toxins.
Dairy Production, 2001 to 2009 (million pounds)
PNW currently has 929,000 dairy cattle. PNW imports over 1 million tons of seed meal into the region annually. Equivalent to 2,740 tons per day
Timeline Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Jan May June Jul Plant canola Plant canola Cut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3 Cut 4 Winter Winter Harvest Canola Harvest Canola
Dual purpose crops can increase profit for single crop. Demand for high quality forage produced on site. Increase crop rotation flexibility. Cover crop.
DM Yield (Mt ha-1) 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 Forage Yield 1,045 AGDD = 5.77 Mt ha -1 Athena Baldur 2.00 1.00 y = -1E-05x 2 + 0.0209x - 5.1491 R² = 0.694 0.00 300.0 500.0 700.0 900.0 1100.0 1300.0 1500.0 Growing Degree Days
$ 2200 Gross Return 2000 1800 1,011 AGDD = $1,625 return 1600 1400 1200 1000 Seed only = $1,010 y = -0.0014x 2 + 2.8134x + 212.19 R² = 0.4092 800 300.0 500.0 700.0 900.0 1100.0 1300.0 1500.0 Accumulated Growing Degree Days
Forage Harvest Traditional Forage Canola Forage Time
350 Relative Feed Value 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Triticale Alfalfa Canola Silage Type
Forage Mixtures
Yield Crop Yield DM tons/acre % Canola 3.6 10.6 Canola-Wheat 4.8 19.1 Canola-Pea 3.5 10.6
Quality Crop CP ADF NDF CF Ash RFV -------------------- % ------------------- --- Canola 19.0 15.3 21.7 4.4 14 335 Canola-Wheat 16.7 20.0 33.6 3.6 13 258 Canola-Pea 17.9 16.8 24.1 4.1 13 312
Grain harvest at 15%. May be higher if drying is used. Corn silage when grain at 35% moisture. Begin at ¾ milk stage. May start earlier but yield will be lower. High-moisture corn above 20% (HMC).
High Moisture Corn
Pit Construction
Processed HMC
Packing HMC in pit
Covered HMC pit
HMC pit
Onion
Onions (Allium cepa) are now thought to have originated in southwest Asia, but a wild progenitor has yet to be found. The onion is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables. The dry onions first brought to the US country by settlers were northern European types adapted to the temperate climate found throughout the Northeast. Varieties from warmer regions of the Mediterranean eventually made their way to the southeastern United States.
Onions are classified as dry (bulb) or green. Bulb onion varieties are generally classified by daylength (short, intermediate, long), market use (fresh bulb, dehydrator bulb, or storage type), and bulb color within the fresh market class. Sweet onion types are most commonly marketed as fresh bulbs. In general, short day-length onions are suitable for warm climates; long day-length onions for those northern regions that grow onions.
Onions are greatly affected by weeds, insects, and diseases. One of the most important challenges in onion production today is how to produce onion crops in ways that are sustainable and environmentally responsible while not losing the yields achieved by use of crop-protection chemicals as a substitute for costly hand labor. Value of onions in Oregon is $74 million.
Federal crop profiles have been published for onion production in several states including California, Colorado, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, New York, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, and Ohio (green onions). Some states have recently begun to focus on becoming onion-producing areas especially sweet onions, for which there appears to be a growing market.
The onion crop is irrigated immediately after transplanting or planting. Frequent and light irrigations at weekly interval results in good bulb development and increased yield. At bulb formation, irrigation is necessary as moisture stress at this stage results in low yield, splitting and forced maturity.
Botrytis Smut Mildew Fusarium
Pink rot White rot
Harvest
Harvest
Grain Legumes