• Aim to cut the silage when the sward is still dominated by leaves and young stem, or before the seed heads emerge fully.

  • If the weather allows, wilting grass helps improve the dry matter and preservation qualities of the silage made. Only wilt if weather is suitable.

  • Cut in the afternoon rather than the morning. The dew in the grass in the morning can amount to 1t of water per acre harvested in the silage extra compared with silage cut in the afternoon.

  • A rule of thumb is that grass will utilise approximately two units N/acre/day or 14 units per week. Where 90 units of N was spread it should take six weeks for all the N to be taken up. If you are worried about nitrogen levels in the grass you can get grass tested for proteins and sugars at laboratories or Teagasc offices all around the country.

  • Try not to delay cutting for too long after the crop is fit to cut. Every week it is delayed results in a drop of 2.5 percentage points in quality per week. If an adequate window of dry weather becomes available and the crop is ready to cut, it should be cut and ensiled.

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