Perfect silage starts with CLAAS
The right equipment combined with clever technology that gives you the ability to monitor and adapt in the paddock, as you harvest, is the golden ticket to perfecting silage making.
In partnership with Landpower
Landpower Green Harvest Product Manager Luke Wheeler says it’s no secret that the cheapest feed available to farmers is grass grown on farm, and farmers well understand that the quality of silage directly influences production and profitability. And good silage starts with the right equipment.
“It’s all about cut quality, no dirt or contamination, conditioning to break down the wax layer and allowing drying to happen as quickly as possible. Control is key,” he says.
Making perfect silage is both a science and an art, but choosing the right tools and eliminating much of the guesswork can greatly increase your success rate, and that’s where the four CLAAS products work together seamlessly each step of the process to deliver the best result.
With the ability to influence the quality of silage harvested, down to the exact drymatter number in the paddock for easy adjustment of chop length to automatic regulation of inoculant applied, the CLAAS solution is a class above.
“If you know the drymatter of the crop you’re harvesting, you can control the rest of the harvest chain,” Wheeler says.
The first step in the process is to mow. The CLAAS DISCO mowers offer the cleanest of cuts at high speeds to ensure optimal forage quality. The floatation system allows easy height adjustment to reduce contamination with dirt – just grass, nothing else. An important consideration here is also time of year (is it lush green grass early in the season or standing dry grass later on?) and the conditioning needed to break down the wax layer and provide optimal drying time.
Secondly, you need to rake it. The CLAAS LINER rakes have 3D ground contour following, again meaning no risk of digging into the dirt and contamination, and also less risk of losing valuable nutrients from the silage. Depending on conditions, you may like to consider spreading grass using tedders to increase the rate of wilting.
Knowing your feed system will determine the length of chop using the CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvester. Easily adjust the length of the chop in the paddock, depending on the drymatter of the crop and automatically increase or decrease flow rates of inoculant, as needed, saving money. Clever technology gives the ability to react immediately to conditions and adjust on the go.
Finally, the CLAAS TORION wheeled loaders seal the deal, preventing air from getting trapped in the pit and ensuring a well-compacted silage pit.
Wheeler stresses it’s all about planning ahead and understanding how to set up the machines to achieve the best result. Precision control and fine-tuning in the paddock gives real-time decision-making power, ensuring efficiency and directly impacting the bottom line.
Preparation is key, and this extends to early ordering of machinery, guaranteeing spec and timely delivery. It also ensures bang for buck by taking advantage of the early ordering incentive and gives price certainty for budgeting.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all – our machines are custom, to meet specific requirements.”
