Silage clamp design

Thanks again for joining us in our Agriplastics Community podcast. My name is Trevor Wells and for this new episode I will be talking about silage clamp or bunker silo design.

To talk about this topic, I had a special guest today, Will Wilson, who is business development director at ARK Agriculture based in UK, a company specialising in silage storage. His background is in practical farm and business management, which helps him understand ways silage storage can be improved at a farm level.

ARK Agriculture supplies silage clamps and silage covers across the UK and internationally for biogas and livestock farmers, with over 150 sites using their clamps or bunker silo in the UK. Will helped develop the business of silage storage from its conception in 2013.

Many thanks Trevor for your invitation.

1. I understand that in many cases farmers build their silage clamp following certain basic parameters, but I understand that the design of these silage clamps is fundamental, and it is not just a matter of building two concrete walls on each side, why?

2. With so many years in this business, I imagine you have seen all kinds of silage clamp construction designs in the field... what are the most common systems? Could you tell us about their advantages and disadvantages?

1. Sloping walled silage clamps
2. Silage bags commonly known as AgBags
3. Vertical walled silage clamps
4. Silage stored in piles on fields or pads without walls

3. You mentioned silage bags as one of the systems used. We recently published an episode of our podcast dedicated to this topic which, for those who have not been able to listen to it yet, I invite you to do so. Here we talked precisely about when it can be a good option to choose this type of system.

You also mentioned that farmers can choose between sloping walls or vertical walls, I understand that the best option is the design with sloping walls, but I don't know if this works in all cases.

Each site has different requirements. Systems have to meet:

• Budgets
• Required storage capacity
• Time
• Ground conditions
• Local regulations

4. And once you choose your silage storage system, what other elements should be considered when designing your silage clamp or bunker silo?

Key to silage storage design is to maximise silage quality by considering.

• The materials you will use to build the clamp
• Your silage clamp dimensions

The dimensions of your silage clamp or pad should be determined by:

• Feedout rates - how quickly you intend to empty the clamp
• Silage storage capacity required
• Site availability
• Number of cuts and type of silage
• Cover designs
• Ability to fill and empty the clamps with current machinery

5. Regarding the material, the silage clamp base comes to mind, any special recommendations for its construction?

Asphalt makes an excellent silage clamp base.

• It’s quick to install
• Requires fewer joints
• Repairable and easy to replace
• Can easily be sculpted into the right falls required
• MUST BE SILAGE CLAMP SPECIFIC (acid resistant)

6. I understand that also the load that these silage clamps must bear is particularly important, isn't it? Some years ago, the machines were not so heavy, but now this has changed. Is this another factor to consider?

Traditional silage clamp designs are rarely designed with a specific loading in mind which is why you must consult a specialist.

Modern clamp machinery can weigh up to 30+ tons so walls must be specified to hold these weights.

7. Where is the best place to locate a silage clamp/bunker silo?

• Above the dirty water system for the rest of your farm allowing for gravity
• Across the prevailing wind or in a sheltered area
• Opposite direction to the sun's travel
• In the UK 10m away from a watercourse – local regulations!
• In location that allows for future expansion

8. While touring farms here in the States, I have also seen how dangerous these bunker silos can be, here I imagine that the design you choose for your silage clamp also plays a role, what recommendations would you give to farmers regarding safety?

Silage clamps are one of the most dangerous structures on a farm

• Operators uncover them alone
• They require working at height
• They are open to the weather
• They are not stable surfaces
• Silage faces can collapse

Consider clamp design and operation to limit the risk

• Operators should work in pairs
• When working at height there should be fall arrest systems
• Never walk close to an open silage clamp face
• Use tools to allow for the uncovering of clamps

9. I hope that with this we have answered all the doubts that our farmer friends who listen to us might have... if you have a silage clamp that does not offer you the silage quality you would like or you are thinking of building a new one, here are some key recommendations to follow. I would add the importance of having a specialist because there are many aspects to consider.

This is essential and the reasons are:

• You will have to comply with local laws which might include rules regarding drainage
• Silage clamp leachate is very hazardous and must be carefully managed
• Silage is often the cheapest for of animal feed on a farm so investing in its storage is vital
• You must maintain your silage storage - every year!
• It is very hard to change existing silage storage as it is very rarely empty
• Silage clamp design starts with silage quality and works backwards
• You cannot make excellent silage in bad silage clamps
• Silage clamps are dangerous but can be made safer
• You need to plan for the future
• You will have to live with your decisions for a long time

It is a long-term investment!

Thank you very much Will. Very interesting all the information you have shared with us.

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Will. As in other episodes, we will leave his contact information in the episode description. Also, I invite you to visit our website www.agriplasticscommunity.com and check all the information we have related to silage storage.