NSW Department of Primary Industries | CSU Homepage
5 March 2008
Getting the most from hay and silage
The first of two Forage Conservation Field Days designed to assist farmers to produce more profitable hay and silage was held at Henty on Tuesday 4 March. A similar event to be held at Mangoplah on Wednesday 2 April 2008 will also benefit local producers and is expected to be well attended.
The free field days are sponsored by Alma Park Pleasant Hills Landcare group and the Graham Centre.
Alma Park Pleasant Hills Landcare group has linked with the Graham Centre to secure funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for a project focusing on providing farmers with the skills and knowledge to improve their ability to manage drought and recover from the recent run of poor seasons.
Relative profitability of cropping and livestock enterprises and the role for fodder conservation in the maintenance of ground cover and persistence of perennial pastures are two main areas that will be covered in the 12-month project.
The first public activities organised under the project are the two Forage Conservation Field Days. The Mangoplah event will be held at the Mangoplah Hotel on 2 April, commencing at 1.30pm and concluding at 5.30pm. The theme is ‘Getting the most from your hay and silage’ and farmers will be provided with management tips on improving profitability from conserved forage.
Guest speaker is NSW DPI Livestock Research Officer, John Piltz, who has more than 20 years' experience in conserving forage and investigating livestock response. Topics to be covered on the day include tips for more profitable hay and silage, what crops and pastures are worth cutting, what production can be expected from conserved forage – start planning now, and lessons from 2007.
Field day organiser, Graham Centre Industry Liaison Officer, Helen Burns, said the field days would have something for everyone with a major emphasis on quality.
“Even very small changes to management can improve quality and so lift the potential for profitability from conserving forages,” she said.
“It costs about the same to make high quality hay or silage that’s suitable for production feeding as it does to make poor quality material. The difference may be as little as knowing the right growth stage to cut.”
For more information contact Helen Burns on (02) 6938 1947 or helen.burns@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
Media contacts: Sarah Chester on (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669
or Helen Burns on (02) 6938 1947.