I think the biggest issue you would have with haylage, would be storage and then how fast can you use it?
So much needs to be taken off the face of a bag or off the top of a silo every day to keep it fresh, otherwise you get spoilage. On 10 acres, you may be able to get a 8' bag, maybe 100 ft. long depending on how it piles up from 10 acres. Every year we do our 1st crop in either a 9 or 10' bag, 200 feet long. We might get 25-30 acres in one.
If you go the bagger route, it takes a stout tractor to run it. Not a big problem, as we rent one to run it because our big tractor is on the chopper. You also need wagons. A decent chopper box that can handle haylage is gonna be the most expensive part, unless you are faithful at attending auctions when you should be in the field doing hay.
We got a NH 892 2 years ago for $700, with a hay pick up and electric controls. Last year I found another for parts with another, better, hay head for $200. Those are steals and don't come around often. Wagons never seem to come up cheap unless worn out and junk. For a 16 or 18' wagon, if there is ANY road travel, you also need a larger tractor for hauling. We use a Massey 285 for hauling, and even that can be a bit undersize if you have to stop fast. An 18' wagon loaded with haylage can go upwards of 20,000-24,000 lbs.
We cut with a 14' hydra-swing, let it sit for 2 days (first crop), chop with with our 105 HP Oliver 1855, haul with the 285, and run a rented Ag Bagger with a rented IH 986. The total cost for the bagger, tractor + fuel, and bag is upwards of $1500. Makes excellent feed and the cows love it.
If it's getting dry while chopping and it rains, it sure does help. It also helps us get 1st crop done sooner, for when we want to plow under a feild and put it in corn yet.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - The Day Mom Drove the 8N - by Brian Browning. My Dad was wanting to put in a garden but couldn't operate the 8N and handle the old horse drawn plow he had found and rigged up to use with the tractor. Well, he decided to go get Mom out of the house and have her drive the tractor while he walked behind the plow. You got to understand that while my Mom is a hard worker who will always help whenever she can... she had never operated farm machinery before that day. Dad got her out there, explained how the clutch was the same as in our o
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Oliver 550 Diesel runs like a watch three point hitch pto engine gone threw about two hundred hours ago nice clean tractor
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
