With spring in full-bloom, the latest edition of Silage Insights offers an informative installment of essential news and practical advice to help you benefit from a cost-effective and hassle-free silage season this year. To gain an expert overview of the season ahead, we spoke to Dow's European Silage Market Manager, Mark Saurin, about the outlook for 2007.
1. Is the silage season looking in good shape? "The silage season has come around really quickly, following the relatively mild weather that we experienced over the winter and spring. The warm spring weather has provided excellent early silage season weather and this promises favourable growing conditions for the 2007 season in Europe. However, whilst an increase in forage yield is clearly good news, we must also be aware that the unusually warmer temperatures do indicate that climate change is underway. Indeed, there is a very compelling article in this edition that provides insights and advice about tailoring baling practices to respond to more extreme weather conditions - it makes very interesting reading."
2. What are Dow's plans for 2007? "As always, Dow continues to commit time and resources to bring improvements in the silage markets. Our constant goal is further development into DOWLEX PE resins to understand how we can enhance film structures which continue to raise the value and quality of the silage produced. We are also looking at whether special resins are needed for haylage, as this market continues to expand. The testimonials from experts, breeders and riders in this issue of Silage Insights are rather revealing as to the important role that haylage can play in today's horse nutrition, particularly for performance horses. In this respect, we will be concluding a major literature review project into haylage which we hope to begin to share with you later this year."
3. What about new markets, is Dow looking into Eastern Europe? "Eastern Europe is a potential opportunity for long-term market development and growth and at Dow we are looking at Poland and Russia as a natural expansion for our silage programme. We are currently engaged in market development activities in Poland, including an academic research project in cooperation with the Institute for Land Reclamation and Grassland Farming, aimed at demonstrating the benefits of baled silage over alternative ensiling techniques in developing Central European countries. The challenge in these countries is to reinforce best practices, raise standards and underpin the importance of using quality films."
"On behalf of myself and the editorial team, we wish you a prosperous silage season in 2007, and hope that this newsletter provides some useful insights and advice to help you along the way."
When to Handle a Round Bale? It is becoming more common to press and wrap round bales on the field using a combined baler and wrapper machine. The discussion has been intense among farmers and contractors on when the bales should be removed from the field for storage. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences provides a scientific view on this open question. Read more
Choosing and Correctly Using Stretch Film for Bale Silage The importance of a quality stretch film and its correct use in the wrapping process are key in producing high quality silage. Read more
Preview of Silage Season 2007 Climate change is underway. More extreme weather events must be expected and practices for making baled silage need to be adapted accordingly. Read more
Feeding high protein diet to racing horses Diets for racing horses often contain large amounts of concentrates to provide enough energy. Feeding concentrates increases the risk for metabolic disorders and stereotypic behaviour and high-energy forage might be a better alternative. The effects of high crude protein intake on exercise response in trotters eating only high-energy roughage are revealed in a recently published study. Read more
Country Focus: Silage production in Poland Changing trends in silage production in Poland can be attributed to many social factors leading to an increase in the use of ensilage used. The climate of Poland also explains the methodology used by farmers when conserving hay for the winter periods. The article also covers reasons why produced silage is not good enough. Read more
Optimising Results in Arabian Performance Horses with Haylage
Interview with Sarah Kelleway, a champion endurance horse trainer
Horseracing and endurance expert, Sarah Kelleway, has enjoyed a rich and varied career riding and training Arabian horses across Europe and the Middle East. Having ridden over 500 winning horses in Europe alone, Sarah has extensive knowledge of high-octane equine sports and an in-depth understanding of how to optimise performance through nutrition. A regular columnist and spokesperson on horse matters, Sarah shares her advice on the benefits of haylage with Silage Insights. Read full article
Feeding Haylage to Horses: Perspective of a Olympic Games and World Championships Horse Breeder
Interview with Bernhard Sieverding, horse breeder in Germany
Bernhard Sieverding has 25 breeding mares of the finest stock on his 60 hectares, traditional stud farm in Twistringen in Germany. Horses from his stud farm participated in a number of Olympic Games and World Championships with rider Anna Mehrfeld. He shares with Silage Insights his positive experiences with feeding haylage to his horses. Read full article
Dow encourages Farmer Creativity
Weird and wonderful 'bale sculptures' are becoming an increasingly prevalent sight across many countries' countryside. Last December, Dow launched a national challenge in the UK to create the most inspired design. Co-sponsored with the leading UK magazine 'Farmers Guardian, the competition attracted many keen bale sculptors and over 280 people voted online to choose the most funny and creative sculpture. And the winners are…
Annual Bale Film Survey This is the fourth year Dow sponsors the 'Silage and Haylage Bale Wrap Survey', as part of its ongoing commitment to understanding silage market trends and developments, The survey is run in cooperation with Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer magazine and, for the first time, it is expanded to run in association with the UK National Association of Agricultural Contractors. Watch this space for the survey results in the next issue of Silage Insights.
Research project in Poland
Dow started a co-operation with the Institute for Land Reclamation and Grassland Farming in Falenty, Poland, to research and compare the effects of the number of wrap layers applied to bales on silage preservation, losses and nutrient quality. In particular, the experiment is to compare four layering treatments - 2, 4, 6, and 8 layers-applied on round bales and to evaluate the silage samples at harvest and also after a 90 day ensiling period. The research trials will be conducted this spring and results will be available by end of February 2008.
Royal Bath & West Show The Bath & West Agricultural Show where all aspects of farming and rural life can be seen, from the best of British livestock to the latest business innovations in farming, will take place in Somerset (UK), May 30- June 02, 2007. For more information, visit: www.bathandwest.com
The Royal Show
The Royal Show, one of the most prestigious agricultural events in the UK, is being held on 1st - 4th July 2007 at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. For more information, visit: www.royalshow.org.uk
The Dairy Event
The Dairy Event, Europe's leading Dairy Show, will take place in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire (UK), September 19-20, 2007. For more information, visit: www.dairyevent.co.uk
Agritechnica
One of the leading national agricultural exhibitions in Germany, Agritechnica, will take place in Hanover in November 13 - 17, 2007. For more information, visit: www.agritechnica.com
Bird Flu Advice Website Goes Live A new website and helpline has been started to advise farmers on how best to protect their farms from the latest outbreak of avian influenza in the UK. The site, www.karcher.co.uk/poultry, helps farmers to identify the most appropriate disinfection equipment, based on the size and location of the farm. Alternatively, UK farmers can call the helpline on 01295 752033 to discuss their particular situation.
New Holland reveal new offering New Holland has revealed its new generation of self-propelled forage-harvesters, the FR9000-series. The line-up consists of five models with maximum reported outputs ranging from 424hp to 824hp. The company has also moved away from using a radial blower unit which, although a strong performer in grass, had its weaknesses for maize harvesting. For more information go to http://www.newholland.com.
Feed Preservation Practical Handbook
A new practical handbook was published by the DLG Feed Preservation Workgroup in Germany, providing a comprehensive perspective and recommendations on the ensiling of coarse feed and moist feed as well as on the preservation of moist grains. A guide for farmers, consultants and service providers in feed production operations. Read more
UK Hosts First Farm Waste Event Following the implementation of the Waste Management regulations in the UK, the first Farm Waste Event was organised in Nottinghamshire, which provided advice to farmers and showcased many of the companies which now offer waste disposal products and services. With only a few months to go before the May 15 deadline to register exemptions for any activities, speculation follow that a knowledge gap still remains, despite efforts by organisations such as the National Farmers' Union, Defra and the Environment Agency to inform UK farmers of their responsibilities.
Concern over Irish Farm Waste Management grant payout
Concern is growing that the €80 million available for Irish Farm Waste Management grants will not cover the number of applications. So far, 48,580 applications have been received by the Department of Agriculture, meaning the amount needed to satisfy this could be over €1 billion. The Department has said "sufficient funding will be made available for the Scheme to ensure that farmers who meet the deadlines laid down in the Scheme will receive their entitlements". A major budget deficit is only likely to occur if the unprecedented numbers of applications are all approved.
