Now is the Time to Check Silage Inventories

Managing silage inventories effectively is essential for maintaining herd performance and controlling feed costs. Without a clear plan, it is easy to run short at critical times or allow valuable feed to spoil, especially after a challenging forage production year like 2025. A proactive approach helps ensure consistent quality and availability throughout the feeding season.

Start by understanding how much silage your herd actually consumes. Daily intake per animal, herd size, and feeding duration all factor into total needs. Building in a small buffer helps protect against unexpected changes such as weather or fluctuations in feed demand.

Accurate measurement is just as important as planning. Whether you are working with bunkers, piles, or bags, estimating volume and tracking usage over time gives you a clearer picture of what is on hand. Simple record keeping, updated regularly, can prevent surprises and support better decision making.

Silage quality should remain a top priority from storage to feedout. Proper packing and sealing reduce oxygen exposure and promote stable fermentation. Once the silo is open, managing the feed face carefully helps limit spoilage. Removing silage evenly and avoiding loose material can significantly reduce losses. A complimentary task to managing feed inventories is taking a critical look at our feed storage efforts. Evaluating our moisture, density, kernel processing and chop length can help to ensure the cows are getting the feed they need.

Finally, reviewing your inventory several times and at the end of the season provides valuable insights. Comparing planned versus actual usage highlights areas for improvement and helps refine future strategies. With consistent attention and good habits, silage inventory management becomes a reliable part of a productive operation.

Accurately and quickly tracking on-farm feed inventories using the drone.

Tracking feed inventories doesn't have to be hard. With simple calculators or neat tools like the drone A-List Ag is working, keeping tabs on feed can become a standard part of running the farm, as well as valuable piece of information to help plan our crop rotation.