Hay And Silage Making

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 6

Hay And Silage Making

Two popular Department of Agriculture bulletins have been revised in the last few months -and are available again. They are the bulletins on haymaking and silage. In both fields rapid advances in equipment have been made in recent years and silage and haymaking machinery, its use and maintenance feature largely in both publications. which have ample illustrations. In 1959-60 nearly 682,000 acres was used for hay. compared with almost 396,000 acres in turnips and swedes, the next most popular fodder crops. ,

"The aim in haymaking should be to preserve as much as possible of the nutritional qualities of the crop. Proper harvesting and storage are needed to ensure a good crop,” the department says.

From 1956 to 1959 the average area used for making sil. age was 187,000 acres. It is more an all-purpose food than hay and, if made from the right material, has a high moisture content, is easily digested and is fairly nutritious. To ensure quality it must be made from material harvested at the right time and to prevent waste it needs to be adequately protected from the weather. New techniques have been developed for feeding, including a system of self-feeding from the clamp. Both bulletins, which have been prepared by the Farm Advisory Division, cost Is and are obtainable from department offices.