1. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Forage Harvesting and Handling

2. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Hay making objectives  Cut, crimp, rake and bale within a few days time  Reduce plant moisture from 75-85% to below 16%  Store protected from rain and wet soil  Prevent dust and mold contamination  Leaf shatter  Dirt  Molds—formed in the windrow in the bale  Cut, crimp, rake and bale within a few days time  Reduce plant moisture from 75-85% to below 16%  Store protected from rain and wet soil  Prevent dust and mold contamination  Leaf shatter  Dirt  Molds—formed in the windrow in the bale

3. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Minimize losses  Respiration  Rain  1/10 inch  ½ inch  1 inch  Mow-condition  Tedding  Swath inversion  Raking  Respiration  Rain  1/10 inch  ½ inch  1 inch  Mow-condition  Tedding  Swath inversion  Raking 1-7%--- 4% normal 3-7%---5% 7-27%---17% 12-50%---31% 1-4%---2% 2-8%---3% 1-3%---1% 1-20%---5%

4. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Hay losses  Baling  Small bales  Large round bales  Storage  Inside  Outside  Typical losses  20% good conditions  40% to 50% w/ rain, round bales, outside storage  Baling  Small bales  Large round bales  Storage  Inside  Outside  Typical losses  20% good conditions  40% to 50% w/ rain, round bales, outside storage 2-6%---4% normal 3-9%---6% 3-9%---5% 6-30%---15%

5. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day

6. Sickle-Bar Cutting Unit

7. Mower-Conditioner $12,000 to $36,000 1-4% DM loss

8. Self-Propelled Mower- Conditioner $60,000 to $90,000

9. Rotary-disk w/ rubber roll conditioner

10. Steel Roll Conditioner

11. Flail Conditioner

12. Hay Macerator

13. Macerated Hay

14. Windrow Inverter $8,000 to $10,000 1-3% DM Loss

15. Tedder 3% loss in a wet crop, 10% late in drying process

16. Tandem Wheel Rake $10,000 to $12,000 1-20% DM Loss

17. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Suggestions  Cutterbar and rotary disk mowers have offsetting advantages. Rotary disks are most useful when greater harvest capacity is needed.  Conditioning is a good investment in all systems.  Take advantage of natural drying conditions  Wide swath and rake or  Narrow swath and invert before baling (30% moisture)  Cutterbar and rotary disk mowers have offsetting advantages. Rotary disks are most useful when greater harvest capacity is needed.  Conditioning is a good investment in all systems.  Take advantage of natural drying conditions  Wide swath and rake or  Narrow swath and invert before baling (30% moisture)

18. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Suggestions  Tedder/rake might save ½ day at 1 st cut, but 8% loss with alfalfa < 40% moist.  Tedder within a few hours of mowing (50- 60% moisture) or after rain  Inside storage or weather protection can be justified in most conditions.  When hay is transported relatively long distances, large high-density rectangular bales are preferred.  Tedder/rake might save ½ day at 1 st cut, but 8% loss with alfalfa < 40% moist.  Tedder within a few hours of mowing (50- 60% moisture) or after rain  Inside storage or weather protection can be justified in most conditions.  When hay is transported relatively long distances, large high-density rectangular bales are preferred.

19. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Small Rectangular Bales

20. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Large Rectangular Bales

21. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Round Baler $15,000 to $30,000

22. Bale size  Small square bales are easy to handle (50 lb).  Convenient for stabled horses.  Labor intensive for several horses.  Large square bales stack tightly for shipping.  2-4 ft width and height, 4-8 ft long, 450-2000+ lb  Large round bales are heavy 600-1000+ lb but labor efficient.  Many horse owners are not set up to handle large bales. Premium for delivery and handling.  Small square bales are easy to handle (50 lb).  Convenient for stabled horses.  Labor intensive for several horses.  Large square bales stack tightly for shipping.  2-4 ft width and height, 4-8 ft long, 450-2000+ lb  Large round bales are heavy 600-1000+ lb but labor efficient.  Many horse owners are not set up to handle large bales. Premium for delivery and handling.

23. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Bale Tuber $15,000 to $20,000

24. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Round Bale Storage

25. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Plastic Bale Wrap

26. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Covered Stack

27. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Shed Storage

28. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Round Bale Storage

29. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU

32. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Feeding losses 3.5% waste 6.1% waste 11.4% waste 14.6% waste

33. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Making Silage  Controlled fermentation of high-moisture forage.  First few days plant enzymes and microbes are active, metabolize soluble carbohydrates to CO 2, H 2 O and heat.  Anerobic microbes multiply using sugars and starches for energy, produce lactic acid.  Lactic acid levels of 7-8%, pH = 4.0 fermentation stops, stable storage  Controlled fermentation of high-moisture forage.  First few days plant enzymes and microbes are active, metabolize soluble carbohydrates to CO 2, H 2 O and heat.  Anerobic microbes multiply using sugars and starches for energy, produce lactic acid.  Lactic acid levels of 7-8%, pH = 4.0 fermentation stops, stable storage

34. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Making Silage  Optimal dry matter 30-45%.  Too wet  pH too high, development of clostridial bacteria, butyric acid, odor.  Seepage of soluble nutrients.  Too dry or poorly packed  Excess heating, molds, bacteria, yeasts.  Unpalatable, may be toxic.  Optimal dry matter 30-45%.  Too wet  pH too high, development of clostridial bacteria, butyric acid, odor.  Seepage of soluble nutrients.  Too dry or poorly packed  Excess heating, molds, bacteria, yeasts.  Unpalatable, may be toxic.

35. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Silage harvest systems  Silage production is a major cost of milk production.  Own or custom hire?  Labor available  Crop acreage  Crop quality  Silage production is a major cost of milk production.  Own or custom hire?  Labor available  Crop acreage  Crop quality

36. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Suitable days for harvest  Only 2 days out of 3 are suitable for corn silage harvest in September and October.  Hours per day available?  Only 2 days out of 3 are suitable for corn silage harvest in September and October.  Hours per day available?

37. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Equipment set  Forage harvester  Transport wagons or trucks  Silo blower or packing tractor  Forage harvester  Transport wagons or trucks  Silo blower or packing tractor

38. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Prevent crop flow bottlenecks  2-row pull-type  3 7-ton self-unloading wagons when hauling 1.75 miles or less  8-row self-propelled  8 9-ton dump trucks when hauling 5 miles.  2-row pull-type  3 7-ton self-unloading wagons when hauling 1.75 miles or less  8-row self-propelled  8 9-ton dump trucks when hauling 5 miles.

39. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Silo Filling and Storage  Fill fast  Uniform moisture and maturity  Pack well  Exclude oxygen  Cover  No cover costs 30% of top 3 feet.  Fill fast  Uniform moisture and maturity  Pack well  Exclude oxygen  Cover  No cover costs 30% of top 3 feet.

40. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Packing or filling silos  Packing increases silage density, excludes oxygen, promotes fermentation and improves quality

41. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Upright Silo 8-10% DM loss

42. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Bunker Silo 12% DM loss

43. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Bag Silo 6% DM loss

44. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Silo Feed-Out  Unload fast  Size face for feed removal of 5 inches per day.  Sample for feed composition and quality.  Unload fast  Size face for feed removal of 5 inches per day.  Sample for feed composition and quality.

45. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Compare harvest systems  Dairies of 75-, 150-, 300-, 600-, and 1200- cows with replacements  Mix of new and used equipment  Dairies of 75-, 150-, 300-, 600-, and 1200- cows with replacements  Mix of new and used equipment  New tractors to power pull-type forage choppers  Used tractors to pack bunker silos, forage blowers and transport wagons.  Used trucks for transport on larger farms.

46. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Harvest Costs  Machinery ownership  Purchased, depreciated over 7 years, replaced  6% real interest  R&M on accumulated use  Fuel and lube  Labor for chopping, transport and silo filling plus 15% support time  Machinery ownership  Purchased, depreciated over 7 years, replaced  6% real interest  R&M on accumulated use  Fuel and lube  Labor for chopping, transport and silo filling plus 15% support time

47. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU Requires a systems approach  Not included:  Mowing and raking alfalfa  Crop storage  Timeliness penalites  Storage losses  Charges for  Land  Crop establishment  Crop care  Not included:  Mowing and raking alfalfa  Crop storage  Timeliness penalites  Storage losses  Charges for  Land  Crop establishment  Crop care

48. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU 75-cow herd  1-row chopper  2 used 60 hp tractors  80 hp tractor  2 self-unloading wagons  Forage blower  1-row chopper  2 used 60 hp tractors  80 hp tractor  2 self-unloading wagons  Forage blower  565 tons alfalfa silage  990 tons corn silage  Within.25 miles  101 hours machine use  $132 per hour  $8.58 per ton

49. Harrigan, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, MSU 600-cow herd  4-row SP chopper  2 210 hp tractor/blade (used)  3 15-ton dump trucks  4-row SP chopper  2 210 hp tractor/blade (used)  3 15-ton dump trucks  6470 tons alfalfa silage  7935 tons corn silage  Within 2 miles  186 hours  $428.75 per hour  $5.54 per ton

50. Harrigan, 2006 Purdue Hay Day Silage harvest costs