Silage and hay production

Silage- and hay-making are very important components of success on organic farms, not just because good quality silage and hay are critical 

The date for cutting silage, haylage or hay will vary between lowland and upland farms and between years. The dairy farmer is more likely to cut early for higher quality silage than the beef and sheep farmer, who is more likely to want more dry matter with less emphasis on quality. 

85% dry matter. To translate the fresh weight of hay made into small bales, divide by 0.02. Thus, 6.7 t fresh weight of hay represents 335 small bales of hay per ha. 

The number of bales of haylage or hay made per field is usually counted. Reference to Table 2.6 will act as an approximate guide as to whether yield could be improved for a particular site class. Comparisons are often made between one s own yield and that of a neighbour, but if the site classes are dissimilar then yields are going to be different, and the differences are not necessarily due to bad management. 

In a study of the nutrient content of silage in Switzerland, Wyss (2000) showed that using fertiliser increased the crude protein and fibre level but decreased the sugar level. This led to the conventional silage scoring lower for fermentation quality. 

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