Plains Farmers Interested In New Silage Machine

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 14, 1 November 1950, Page 5

Plains Farmers Interested In New Silage Machine

A film shown by Mr A. H. Ward at a Herd Improvement meeting, interested several farmers on the Rangitaiki Plains in labour-saving devices. Not the least item was the making of silage by two men. The possibility of completing harvesting operations with labour generally available on farms makes for tremendous relief at the main period of labour shortage. It also will greatly increase the popularity of making silage—the only possible way of conserving . grass at a period when it is most often in oversupply and when damage to pasture is minimised. The new method is not fast. There are some gangs putting in six or more acres per day—which is necessary if around the hundred acres of silage are required as on some of the larger units or between co-operating farmers. If, however, four acres can be stacked between morning and evening milkings by two men, there are few units too large for such a rate of input to suffice. The new method cannot be worked over a stack height of much more than ten feet with present equipment—in fact at this height input rate is reduced. This requires more careful assessment of the area for a bigger base so that at no stage will there be grass ready to be stacked if the height is over nine feet. The ease of moving to another stack is of value at this, stage.

It is gratifying to find that most popular tractors can be fitted with the necessary equipment which has been developed in recent years in the U.S.A. and Great Britain. It is, however, stressed that stacks are limited in height and a change in design will be necessary.