A46-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 6, 1998
Many times as an Extension Agent 1 get asked questions about purchasing forages out of the
field One of the most difficult parts of this procedure is determining the amount of dry matter
harvested from the field. The most effective way of determining this is to weigh each load, or to
obtain an estimate by weighing selected “aveiage” loads Many times, however, this is not
convenient or feasible
Recently, researchers at the Univeisity of Wisconsin Marshfield Agricultural Experiment
Station weighed and measured haylagc/silagc pioduced on the farm for three years According
to Mike Rankin. University of Wisconsin, average depth of forage was estimated and moisture
samples were taken for each load us they passed over the scale.
Table I gives the average silage dry matter density (lbs per cubic foot) on the wagons. For the
various types of forage, the range is from 4 6 lbs. DM/ft 1 to 5.7 lbs. DM/ft’ with an average of
about 5.0 pounds per cubic foot According to the data gathered, lorage density did not vary
greatly with forage type or moisture
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
In conjunction with National
Dairy Month, Gov. Tom Ridge
has proclaimed June as Dairy
Month in Pennsylvania to recog
nize the many contributions the
dairy industry makes to the com
monwealth.
“Pennsylvania’s dairy produc
tion is the leading segment of our
agricultural industry,” Gov. Ridge
said. “Our dairy farmers and their
families are to be commended for
the strength and vitality they bring
to rural communities throughout
ic Is In That Wai
How Much Silai
Gov.
Ridge Proclaims June Dairy Month
the commonwealth. I encourage
all Pennsylvanians to enjoy a cold
glass of milk.”
Milk is nature’s most perfect
food and Pennsylvania’s official
beverage. More than 38 percent of
agricultural income in Pennsylva
nia is generated by the dairy in
dustry. Sales from milk alone rep
resents a $1.67 billion contribu
tion to the state’s economy.
Adding to the dollar value of
milk itself are the state’s process
ing plants and manufacturers.
“In addition to our 10,500 com-
■on?
mercial dairy fanners, thousands
of Pennsylvanians are employed
in the manufacturing and process
ing of dairy products,” Gov. Ridge
said.
Pennsylvania is the fourth-lead
ing milk-producing state in the
country. Last year, 644,000 dairy
cows produced 10.6 billion
pounds of milk.
Pennsylvania also ranks second
See Your Local Dealer For Further Information
Rankin stales, knowing this, it is now possible to estimate the load on a wagon by multiplying
volume times density. Let's look at an example A wagon measuring 16 It long by 725 ft.
wide and Tilled to a depth of 6 leet with second cutting alfalfa haylage has a volume ot 696
cubic leet (16 x 725 x 6) To determine the amount of dry matter on the wagon, multiply the
cubic feet times 5 lbs of dry matter per cubic foot (fiom Table 1) This comes to 3480 lbs of
dry matter (696 x 5),
To convert this back to “as fed” weight, divide the dry matter content (as a decimal) into the dry
matter lbs. If our second cutting alfalfa haylage is 60% moisture (40% dry matter), we would
divide 3480 lbs. by 0.40 to get 8700 lbs. as fed
Table 1. Average Silage Dry Matter Density on Wagons Weighed at the University of
Wisconsin Marshfield Ag. Research Station
Forage
Haylage
Haylage
Hay 1 age
Haylagc
Corn Silage Not Applicable
Grass
Clover
Oatlai
Please keep in mind dial these are only averages, and that wagons must be filled to an equal
depth from end to end. Sometimes, this may require adjusting the paddles on your forage
harvester Weighing the wagons on a scale is still the most accurate option if it is feasible
Once the dry matter tonnage is determined, the purchaser can then negotiate a price with the
seller. Some of the prices I’ve heard producers use in the southeast region have been between
one half of dry hay auction market value to one third of dry hay auction market value,
depending on quality, location, etc.
Beco Equipment
252 N Shirk Rd
New Holland, PA 17557 717 354-2354
Blam Supplq
R #1 Box 264
Blam, PA 17006
Brant's Farm Supphj
601 E High St
Elizabethtown, PA 17022 717-367-1221
Dependable Motors Co
4270 Horse Pike
Honey Brook, PA 19344
Ebq's Law/n & Garden
16409 Fairview Rd
Hagerstown, Md 21740 301-733-4158
Cutting Avg. Density Avg. Dry Sample Size
lbs. DM/ft' Matter (%) (No. of Loads)
First
Second
Third
Fourth
licablc
Not Ai
in the annual production of ice
cream, with 67 million gallons;
and sixth in the production of
cheese, with 340.6 million
pounds.
The dairy industry offers con
sumers a wealth of great tasting
and nutritious foods by continuing
to meet the changing demands of
consumers.
Dairy products are the most
717-536-3933
610-273-3131
45.6
5.67
4/0
5 00
51.7
5 10
56.7
4.95
34 4
5 05
43.5
4 55
48.3
5 48
36.6
4.99
MILK
readily available food source for
calcium and provide generous
amounts of protein, vitamin D,
riboflavin and potassium.
Martin Equipment
RR 1 Box 287
Newmanstown, PA 17073 717-949-6817
Pine Qlen Farm Store
50 Sawmill Rd •
McVeytown, PA 17051 717-899-7400
Shade Mtn. Rental Supplq
RD #2, Box 738
Port Royal, PA 17082 717-436-5632
Shanks Laivn Equipment
4900 Molly Pitcher Hwy
Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-375-4455
119