shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com October 15, 2019 • Page 3 Moisture Is Critical When Harvesting Silage During A Wet Year BROOKINGS, S.D. - With many flooded and saturated fields in South Dakota this fall, harvesting silage before corn dries past desired moisture levels or frost occurs may be a challenge for some producers. Three, four-wheel drive John Deere tractors, pushing up chopped corn silage into a drive over pile on a dairy farm. Packing is a very important part of putting up highquality silage. Three tractors pack and push up a pile on a South Dakota dairy farm. Courtesy:Tracey Erickson Creating quality silage is most dependent on harvest plant moisture. Ideally, when chopping silage, the plant should be 32 to 38 percent dry matter. “Moisture calculation is key and given the genetics of today’s corn varieties, the relationship between milk line and plant moisture content may not always be accurate,” says Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist. Harvesting at over 40 percent dry matter reduces digestibility of fiber and starch and may cause packing issues. More specifically, the optimum silage moisture ranges from 55 to 60 percent for upright oxygen-limiting silos, 60 to 65 percent for upright stave silos, 60 to 70 percent for bags, and 65 to 70 percent for bunkers. “In other words, wetter silage tends to work better in bags, bunkers and piles for better packing. Drier silage tends to work better in upright silos to minimize seepage,” Bauder says. An easy, quick and relatively inexpensive method to determine the actual moisture content of the whole corn plant can be performed by using a microwave oven. This typically takes less than 20 minutes to test. For step-bystep instructions on using a microwave to moisture test forages, visit the SDSU Extension website. Chopping Dry Silage Although not ideal for optimum feed value and storage, if a producer chooses to chop silage above 40 percent dry matter, there are several considerations to make: • Reduce chop length to release more plant fluids and improve packing. • Use a kernel processor to improve digestibility. The more mature the corn is, the less digestible it becomes. • Use silage inoculants to improve fermentation. Liquid inoculants may be more effective in dry silage. • If piling or using bunker silos, use extra heavy tractors for packing and pack no more than six inches at a time. • Blend wetter feeds with dry silage like forage sorghum, alfalfa, later-planted green corn or wet distillers grains. • Place wettest forage on the top layer of the pile or horizontal bunker for sealing and weight. Adding water to the top layer of the pile may also help with this. • Another option, although time consuming, is to mix the wetter and drier feeds in a TMR wagon prior to ensiling. • Cover tightly with silage plastic and/or oxygen barrier to keep the environment as anaerobic as possible. Chopping Earlage With an energy content higher than corn silage but lower than corn grain, and a similar protein content to corn silage, Bauder suggests earlage as a good alternative. Ideally, moisture content for chopping earlage is 35 to 40 percent. A silage chopper with a snapper head can be used. Some producers have successfully used combines set to retain a portion of the cob with the grain. Much like silage, if harvested too wet, seepage may occur and if harvested too dry, it will not pack well which causes excessive spoilage. Things to consider when chopping earlage: • Make sure every kernel is cracked and the cob portions are no larger than a thumbnail to improve pack density and digestibility. • Consider using a kernel processor to improve digestibility. • Use inoculants to improve fermentation. • If piling or using bunker silos, use extra heavy tractors for packing. • Cover tightly with silage plastic and/or an oxygen barrier to keep the environment as anaerobic as possible. What to watch for If silage is too wet when harvested, there is a risk of butyric acid forming and nutrients being lost due to seepage. Silage that is over 70 percent moisture should not be harvested and should stand in the field for a few more days. On the other hand, if it is too dry, silage will not ferment or pack adequately, resulting in mold development. “In addition, flooded corn can contain many contaminants. Watch for corn ear molds, stalk molds and if the plant is quite dirty, soil contaminants. Preservatives and fermentation do not lower the concentration of these GFP Commission Creates Deer and Elk Carcass Transportation and Disposal Rules to Combat the Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission has created regulations for the transportation and disposal of deer and elk carcasses from other states and from hunting units within South Dakota's confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) areas. The new regulations will not go into effect until the 2020 hunting seasons. The commission created three regulations to help reduce the spread of CWD. Defined the geographic area comprising South Dakota’s known CWD endemic area: •Deer Hunting Units: CUD-CU1, BHD-BH1, BHDBD1, BHD-BD2, WRD-02A, WRD-21A, WRD-21B, WRD27A, WRD-27B and WRD27L. •Elk Hunting Units: CUE-CU1, CEE-CU1, BHE-H1, BHE-H2, BHE-H3, BHE-H4, BHE-H5, BHE-H7, BHE-H9 and PRE-27A. Established carcass disposal requirements for hunters, taxidermists and game processors: •A hunter, game processor or taxidermist shall dispose of all remaining deer or elk carcass parts taken from another state, or a known South Dakota CWD endemic area directly to or with a waste management provider that delivers to a permitted landfill when noncommercial or commercial meat processing and taxidermy has concluded. •Deer and elk carcasses taken from a known South Dakota CWD endemic area that test negative for CWD from a verified test sponsored by the Department would be exempt from this disposal regulation. •Any recipient of such gift of wildlife as described above shall follow this deer or elk carcass disposal requirement. Established requirements for carcass movement within South Dakota (intrastate) and carcass movement into South Dakota from another state (interstate): •Whole or partial deer or elk carcasses and head with antlers attached may be transported from a known South Dakota CWD endemic area, or another state, only if delivered to a licensed taxidermist, commercial processor or to the hunter’s domicile and disposed of as described in the CWD disposal regulations. •Whole or partial deer or elk carcasses and head with antlers traveling through South Dakota are exempt from this regulation. To learn how you can help slow the spread of CWD, visit gfp.sd.gov/whatcan-i-do. Protect yourself this season. Anyone age 9 or older can come to Yankton Rexall, Monday-Friday and receive a flu shot. No prescription or appointment necessary. We go the extra mile to ensure you receive Hometown Customer Service, by providing you and your family with the service you deserve. 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Courtesy: Sean Bauder Pricing or Buying Feed The Silage Earlage Decision Aid is available for help pricing silage or earlage in South Dakota. Alternatively, the SDSU Extension Feed & Forage Finder Facebook Page can help producers find feed for sale in their area. “This has been a challenging year with heavy spring precipitation and now extensive fall precipitation in some parts of southeastern S.D. Remember, all hope is not lost for your silage crop; keep the options above in mind and have a safe harvest this year,” Bauder says. the Missouri Valley Shopper In print and online! www.missourivalleyshopper.com Mark’s Machinery AXIAL FLOW COMBINES AND HEADS IN STOCK USED EQUIPMENT * All USED Combines * - 36 Month INTEREST WAIVER - 0% GREAT SELECTION! GREAT FINANCING! 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