IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FARMERS AND AGRI CONTRACTORS DURING SILAGE SEASON
Silage effluent is highly polluting, and can cause fish deaths in watercourses, and contaminate wells, if not collected, stored, and spread properly on land.
The volume of effluent can range from zero to 350 litres per tonne of grass.
Now is the time to examine facilities.
- Clean the slab thoroughly (power wash), to check if repairs are needed.
- Store only the amount of silage that the slab or pit is capable of storing safely.
Repairs must be completed to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) specifications for Concrete Silage Bases S128 and Resurfacing of Silo Floors S128A (see www.agriculture.gov.ie).
Problems arise if ensiled grass extends onto or over effluent channels.
Effluent must enter channels under the polythene cover.
To prevent effluent flowing over pit walls, do not store silage too high over walls, slope the grass back at 45-degrees from the top of the walls.
- Check the effluent tank during silage making.
Spread effluent on land at a dilution rate of one part silage effluent to one part water or slurry.
Do not spread if rain is forecast in the next 24 hours.
- Wilt silage for 24 hours before ensiling, to reduce silage effluent.
- In wet conditions, additional drainage pipes on the pit floor can help get effluent out, relieve pressure, and reduce pit slippage.
- Bailed silage is generally drier, but any effluent must be collected, as with pit silage.
Silage bales, including dry matter silage or haylage, can only be stored a maximum of two bales high, in the absence of adequate facilities for the collection and storage of any effluent that may arise.
Silage bales shall be stored at least 20m from surface water or a drinking water abstraction point, as required under the previous regulations. These requirements also apply to the storage of haylage.
