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NASD: Harvesting Crops by Hand Safely Harvesting crops by hand is hard work. It doesn't have to be dangerous. There are tools, machines, the elements, and other workers to consider. Safe working practices are important. See also: Harvest Safety - Harvesting Crops by Hand

Equipment to Rake and Merge Hay and Forage by Dr. Ron Schuler, UW Extension Ag Engineer. Today, hay and forage producers have a wide variety of equipment options for raking and merging swaths or windrows. Selecting the proper equipment and operating it correctly will help to insure high quality forage and a cost effective harvesting system. Several studies have been conducted evaluating the equipment performance and provide useful information in selecting the equipment that best fits a specific forage harvesting system.

Sileage Utilization and Construction of Pit Silos

Maize Cob Storage This leaflet is designed for agricultural extension workers who support farmers in problems relating to the storage of their produce. It presents measures to maintain the quality of maize cobs. The recommended measures are appropriate for storage without using any synthetic insecticides whatsoever, and without significant losses being caused by pests. This is especially attractive to small farmers with low financial resources, and to farmers in remote regions where synthetic insecticides are not available.

Grain Enemies ENEMIES OF STORED GRAIN VOLUME II OF SMALL FARM GRAIN STORAGE BY CARL LINDBLAD. an in-depth study of two major enemies: insects and rodents. Each is discussed in detail with guidelines for 1) defining the size of the problem and 2) protecting grain by both chemical and non-chemical means. This volume includes dose and use information for a variety of pesticides, as well as suggestions for preparing materials to be used in audio-visual presentations. See also: Grain Losses and Grain Preparation

Grain Storage Manual on the Prevention of Post-harvest Grain Losses. See also: Crop Storage and Crop Storage Traditional and Bumper Crop Storage

Estimating the Weight of Forage in a Forage Wagon by Dan Wiersma, Marshfield Ag Research Station. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Most dairy farmers do not have a drive-over scale available on their farms. Frequently it would be useful to know the weight of forage harvested from a field. Measuring alfalfa or corn silage yield is necessary to adjust management practices, to maintain crop inventories, and for crop reporting purposes. Sometimes growers sell hay from a field and require an estimate of the quantity removed or sold.

Harvest and Storage of High-Quality Corn Silage for Dairy Cows - .pdf file or PowerPoint PDF by Dr. Randy Shaver, UW Extension Dairy Scientist

Corn Silage Harvest Management - .pdf file by Dr. Randy Shaver, UW Extension Dairy Scientist, Dr. Joe Lauer, UW Extension Agronomist and Dr. Kevin Shinners, UW Ag Engineer

Machinery Designs and Adjustments for Minimized Field Losses - .pdf file by Dr. Ron Schuler, UW Extension Ag Engineer

Successful Wrapping and Storage of Square Bales or view as a MS PowerPoint presentation by Tim Wood, Director-Lancaster Ag Research Center. Medium square bales (800 to 1000 lb) are increasingly being used across the northern dairy regions to reduce the labor associated with hay and haylage making. If making hay, these bales need to have 2 to 3% less moisture at baling than small square bales to avoid molding and heating. If is often difficult to get the hay dried to 16 percent moisture for safe baling in these regions so it is frequently necessary to use a preservative or to wrap the bales with plastic to avoid spoilage.

Machinery Designs and Adjustments for Minimized Field Losses - .pdf file by Dr. Ron Schuler, UW Extension Ag Engineer

Rain Damage to Forage During Hay and Silage Making by Mike Rankin, Fond du Lac Co. Crops and Soils Agent, and Dr. Dan Undersander, UW Extension Agronomist. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Rain that occurs between the time forage is cut and harvested causes both yield and quality losses that reduce the value of the crop as an animal feed and a marketable commodity.

Large Baler Research and Storage Ideas by Dr. Ron Schuler, UW Extension Ag Engineer. In many areas of Wisconsin, the first cutting of alfalfa forage resulted in excellent yields, filling or nearly filling the silage storage structures on many dairy farms. Therefore many alfalfa producers are looking to harvest their second cutting of alfalfa as intermediate (about 30 inches by 30 inches by 5 feet) square bales. This is an excellent method for handling dry alfalfa hay especially if it is going to be marketed.

Traditional Storage of Yams and Cassava and its Improvement

Plastic Wrapping Bales at Different Moistures and at Different Times after Baling A MS Power Point presentation by Dr. Dan Undersander.

Forage Feedout Losses for Various Storage Systems A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet written by Jerry Clark, Chippewa Co. Crops and Soils Educator. Much expense and time go into harvesting good quality forage and storing it for winter-feeding. You wouldn’t think about throwing away one third of this forage. This is what happens without proper feedout management. This fact sheet discusses feedout management strategies to help save valuable forage in different storage structures.

Managing Forage in Bunker Silos by Craig Saxe, Juneau Co. Agricultural Agent. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Maximizing livestock production is dependent upon, producing and storing quality forage. Once the crop has been harvested, loss of quality may occur simply because steps were not taken to correctly manage the forage during filling and storage. The purpose of this fact sheet is to review bunker silo recommendations that help to maintain a high quality forage product.

Management of Bunker Silos and Silage Piles - .pdf file by Ken Bolton, Jefferson County Dairy and Livestock Agent, and Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

Preventing Silage Storage Losses - .pdf file by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept. and Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy-Forage Research Center

Managing Forage in Tower Silos - .pdf file by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

Transferring Silage Between Silos by Dr. Randy Shaver, UW Extension Dairy Specialist, and Jim Leverich, Monroe Co. Agricultural Agent. We often receive questions from dairy producers about the practice of transferring silage from the silo where it was originally stored to a more conveniently located silo for feeding. This occurs when silage is bought and sold between operations, moves from farm to farm within an operation, or moves into an upright silo to better utilize a conveyor feeding system. This article will address the most frequently asked questions about this practice.

Bunker Silo Cover Alternatives by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept. Silage is covered for two primary reasons. First, covered silage reduces exposure to oxygen. Oxygen is required for the growth of aerobic organisms. These aerobic organisms cause the decomposition of valuable feed. A second reason for covering silage is to exclude rainfall. Precipitation washes organic acids and other soluble feed components from the forage. Organic acids keep silage pH low resulting in an environment that prevents growth of silage-decomposing organisms. In addition, precipitation introduces oxygen to the feed.

Grain storage techniques

Small-scale postharvest handling practices - A manual for horticultural crops - 3rd edition

You Can't Judge a Bunker Silo by Its Cover by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

Silage Bag Capacity (html) - or available as .pdf file (March, 1999) by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept. We frequently get questions about the amount of silage in a silo bag. One way to estimate this value is to calculate the volume in the bag and multiply by its density.

Factors Affecting Bunker Silo Densities - .pdf file by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept., and Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy-Forage Research Center

Bunker Silo Density Calculator - download as an Excel (*.xls) file Documentation - download as a *.pdf file (Acrobat Reader needed) This spreadsheet, developed by Drs. Brian Holmes and Richard Muck is designed to help producers estimate bunker silo densities. Works for both English and Metric units.

Bunker Silo Sizing Spreadsheet - download as an Excel (*.xls) file Documentation - download as a *.pdf file (Acrobat Reader needed) This spreadsheet, developed by Dr. Brian Holmes, will help design bunker silos with nearly vertical walls.

Corn Silage Inoculants that Work A MS PowerPoint presentation given by Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy-Forage Research Center, at the 2001 Forage Teaching and Technology Conference.

Lactobacillus buchneri for Silage Aerobic Stability by David Combs and Pat Hoffman, UW Dairy Scientists. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Lactobacillus buchneri is a bacterial inoculant approved for use in grass silages, corn silage, legume silage and high moisture grains. Lactobacillus buchneri has been demonstrated to improve aerobic stability of silages by reducing the growth of yeasts. The net result is that silages inoculated with L. buchneri are more resistant to heating at feed out(exposed to air) as compared to untreated silages.

Adding Anhydrous Ammonia to Corn Silage by Dr. Ron Schuler, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Application of anhydrous ammonia (NH3) is a low cost method of adding non-protein-nitrogen to your corn silage. If you have a shortage of high protein feed, such as good quality alfalfa silage or hay, adding anhydrous ammonia to corn silage may be appropriate.

Preserving Baled Hay With Organic Acids by Mike Rankin, Fond du Lac Co. Crops and Soils Agent. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Weather patterns in the upper Midwest often make it difficult to field-cure hay below 20 percent moisture on a consistent basis. In some cases, growers may desire to harvest hay at higher moisture levels to reduce harvest losses from mechanical leaf shattering and improve forage quality. For these reasons researchers and hay producers are always looking for methods and technologies that will either accelerate drying time in the field or preserve desirable feeding characteristics of hay harvested above the optimum moisture level for safe storage.

Inoculants for Legume-Grass Silage by Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy-Forage Research Center. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Various spoilage microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts and molds) readily grow on crops going into a silo, causing losses in dry matter and quality. To prevent these various microorganisms from growing, two conditions are needed in the silo: an oxygen-free (or anaerobic) environment and a low pH. Many of the oxygen-requiring (aerobic) microorganisms that heat the crop as well as causing losses cannot be stopped by low pH alone. These microorganisms can only be stopped by sealing the silo well to keep out air. On the other hand, bacteria responsible for poor fermentations such as clostridia are stopped by dropping the pH of the crop sufficiently to prevent their growth.

Inoculants for Corn Silage by Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy-Forage Research Center. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet. Various spoilage microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts and molds) readily grow on crops going into a silo, causing losses in dry matter and quality. To prevent these various microorganisms from growing, two conditions are needed in the silo: an oxygen-free (or anaerobic) environment and a low pH. Many of the oxygen-requiring (aerobic) microorganisms that heat the silage as well as causing losses cannot be stopped by low pH alone. These microorganisms can only be stopped by sealing the silo well to keep out air. On the other hand, bacteria responsible for poor fermentations such as clostridia are stopped by dropping the pH of the crop sufficiently to prevent their growth.

Anhydrous Ammonia for Legume-Grass Silage by Dr. Randy Shaver, UW Extension Dairy Scientist Anhydrous ammonia has long been added to corn silage to increase nitrogen content and improve its aerobic stability. Some recent popular-press articles made mention of farmers that either use or have used this additive on legume-grass silage. This article will address the potential benefits or risks associated with this practice.

Adding Enzymes to Silage by Pat Hoffman, UW Extension Dairy Scientist, Marshfield Ag Research Station and Richard Muck, USDA Dairy Forage Research Center Enzyme addition to silages has received considerable attention over the past decade. Their primary function is to break down forage fiber during fermentation, rendering the silage more digestible during feedout. The breakdown of fiber into soluble sugars also helps bacteria produce lactic acid, which helps to lower silage pH.

Adding Urea to Corn Silage by Pat Hoffman, UW Extension Dairy Scientist, Marshfield Ag Research Station Urea is a manmade feed ingredient containing 46% nitrogen or 287% crude protein equivalents. Urea is a source of dietary nitrogen for use in ruminent feeds. Ingested urea is degraded to ammonia, and the ruminal bacteria incorporate the ammonia into bacterial protein. This type of protein is then digested and becomes available to the ruminant in the lower digestive tract as a source of protein.

Silage Inoculation - Inoculation of Silage and its Effects on Silage Quality Written by Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy Forage Research Center - download as a *.pdf file

Large Baler Research and Storage Ideas Written by Dr. Ron Schuler, UW Extension Ag Engineer  In many areas of Wisconsin, the first cutting of alfalfa forage resulted in excellent yields, filling or nearly filling the silage storage structures on many dairy farms. Therefore many alfalfa producers are looking to harvest their second cutting of alfalfa as intermediate (about 30 inches by 30 inches by 5 feet) square bales. This is an excellent method for handling dry alfalfa hay especially if it is going to be marketed.

Bunker Silo Facers - worth the investment? A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet written by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW-Extension Ag Engineer  Bunker silo facers are a form of silage unloader. They are frequently constructed as teeth attached to a drum. The drum is mounted on a boom attached to a power unit (skid steer, tractor, telehandler, etc.)The drum is rotated while unloading and is often driven by a hydraulic motor. The rotating drum is drawn down the face of the silage in a bunker or pile. The teeth remove the silage stored in the bunker. The silage remaining in the bunker has a smooth face with a relatively low exposure to oxygen.

Facer Cost Analysis Spreadsheet - download as an Excel (*.xls) file This speadsheet, developed by Dr. Brian Holmes, will help analyze the economics of owning and operating a facer for removing silage from horizontal silos.

Capital Costs of Pads for Bunkers, Piles, and Bag Silos - .pdf by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Extension Ag Engineer

Cost of Forage Storage Spreadsheet - download as an Excel (*.xls) file Documentation - download as a *.pdf file (Acrobat Reader needed) This speadsheet, developed by Dr. Brian Holmes, will help analyze the capital and annual costs for various types of high-moisture forage storage structures.

Storing Forage in Piles A MS PowerPoint presentation by Jerry Clark, UW Extension Crops and Soils Educator, and Brian Holmes, UW Extension Ag Engineer.  For a number of years farmers have utilized silage piles for short-term storage of forage crops. Proper management of a silage pile is crucial to assure that forage quality is maintained for delivering to livestock. The most critical step in silage pile management is packing. Without proper packing, silage losses can easily exceed 30% of ensiled dry matter. However, with proper management, silage piles serve as a short-term storage option with dry matter losses as low as 15%.

Deciding on a Silage Storage Type - .pdf file by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

Deciding on a Silage Storage Type (ppt downloadable file 1.02 MB, suggest right clicking, then "save target/file as") An interactive MS PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept., and Craig Saxe, Juneau Co. Agricultural Agent. Helps producers decide on the best storage type to fit a given situation.

Forage Storage Options, What’s Right for You? a MS PowerPoint presentation by Craig Saxe, Juneau Co. Agricultural Agent

Forage Feedout Losses for Various Storage Systems A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet written by Jerry Clark, Chippewa Co. Crops and Soils Educator

Density and Losses in Pressed Bag Silos - .pdf file or Density and Losses in Pressed Bag Silos - .ppt file by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept., and Dr. Richard Muck, USDA Dairy-Forage Research Center

Storing Forage in Piles by Jerry Clark, UW Extension Crops and Soils Educator. A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet.

Choosing Forage Storage Facilities - .pdf file by Dr. Brian Holmes, UW Biological Systems Engineering Dept.

Making a Feed Inventory A "Focus on Forage" fact sheet written by Brian Holmes, UW-Extension Ag Engineer Doing a feed inventory establishes your current stock of various feed ingredients on hand.The process involves determining the volume of each feed stored and then multiplying by the stored density to yield a weight of feed in storage. 

Watch Out for Silo Gas

Planting and Harvesting Information for Nebraska Crops This NebGuide gives information on the normal practices of planting and harvesting crops grown in Nebraska.

HARVESTING KNOWLEDGE IS RIPE FOR THE PICKING UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- You've planted the seeds, watered the plants and waited for your crop to come in. The real test for the home gardener is knowing when to pick the fruits of your labor, says a vegetable expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Harvesting Small Grain Crops for Silage In order for small grain silage to be an attractive crop for lactating dairy cows, timely harvests at the right maturity are of utmost importance, even more so than with corn and sorghum crops. The time frame for optimum harvest of small grains is short so be prepared to move quickly. They mature rapidly especially during dry, warm days.

Harvesting And Ensiling – Forage Grain Crops There are a number of options available to farmers for harvesting and storing of whole crop cereals and moist grains on-farm. The harvesting, processing and storage of these options is outlined in this paper. First time growers of cereals for whole crop and moist grain harvest may require some guidance in deciding optimum harvest date.

Swathing and Harvesting Canola Canola has become a major economic oilseed crop in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota in recent years. However, many growers are relatively inexperienced with canola production and harvesting. Many new growers have limited experience with the crop. Proper harvest management in terms of selecting the proper maturity stage for swathing and combining are very important. As a canola crop nears maturity, it may ripen very quickly. Selecting the correct time to swath and combine canola demands more observations and care than does small grains.

Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates for US Field Crops Usual planting and harvesting dates for major field crops appear in this report. Information is arranged by States for major crops and by commodity for selected States. In addition, dot maps show major areas of production. The information was assembled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, based on the best and latest information available. The same data for vegetables may be found in "Commercial Vegetables for Fresh Market and Processing in Principal Producing Areas, Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates" Agriculture Handbook No. 507, issued February 1977.

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