ARS | Publication request: FORAGE STORAGE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 29, 2003
Publication Date: January 29, 2003
Citation: HOLMES,B.J., MUCK,R.E., RANKIN,M.C. 2003. FORAGE STORAGE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS. In: Proceedings of Fifth International Dairy Housing Conference, January 29-31, 2003, Forth Worth, Texas. p. 178-185.

Technical Abstract: The University of Wisconsin Team Forage Extension Programming team has created a website as a means of delivering forage-related information developed in Wisconsin. A page within the website is dedicated to Harvest and Storage information. On this page, one can access papers, spreadsheets and presentations that can be used to improve understanding of harvest and storage systems. The objective of this website is to improve the management decisions being made by dairy producers so as to improve their profitability. As dairy producers adopt new technologies, proper management of those technologies largely determines their success. A producer desiring to learn more about forage harvest and storage systems can access a wealth of information at the Harvest and Storage web page before, during or after making a decision about feed management. General topics covered include forage harvesting equipment adjustment, economics of storage systems, storage systems design and management guidelines, and management influence on forage quality and losses during harvest and storage. Farm advisors have used the decision aids and publications to educate their dairy farmer clientele, resulting in making sound forage harvest and storage management decisions. This has improved the profitability of the producer and the credibility of the advisor.