Last season’s heatwave provided some big lessons for making grass silage. So what can we learn from 2022?

Last year provided Scottish livestock producers with generally kind weather for making silage. But do not assume the same will happen this year. With elevated feed costs, making quality silage to produce milk and meat cost-effectively will be key.  

As one of the cheapest feed sources available, good grass silage is pivotal to farming profitably – especially now that milk prices have recently fallen back.

'Campaign for Better Silage' is a new initiative brought to you by Volac, Krone, Sinclair McGill and Yara. This article covers ‘to-do’ lists for dairy farmers and what key tasks must be prioritised to ensure high-quality silage.

Volac silage expert Ken Stroud discusses the weather lessons learnt from the past few years, and what we can do to prepare for them.

'Campaign for Better Silage' is a new 2023 initiative brought to you by Volac, Krone, Sinclair McGill and Yara. Our first article offers advice on the right decisions to make on farm to improve business resilience.

Campaign for Better Silage is a new initiative offering advice to dairy farmers on how to navigate the inevitable grassland challenges 2023 will bring, as well as best practice guidance to ensure maximum production on every farm.

High feed, fertiliser and fuel costs are driving UK dairy farmers to want to produce better silage in 2023. And those who made multi-cut grass silage during the droughted 2022 season tended to be better off.

Good (but possibly declining) milk prices, coupled with high inputs costs, mean that maximising milk from homegrown forage and silage really is a ‘no brainer’.