Salvaging a canola crop

[hgb]

Has anyone had any experience silaging canola? Wondering about feed quality? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[flatbroke]

I've heard of some very good results silaging canola around here the past couple of years - feed value and palatability seems to be good. However, as silage isn't an option for me I was wondering about attempting to bale some (first, I need a 60 ft. swather with foam markers) I'd love to hear from anyone who's tried this?

[jmillang]

Unfortunately we have had to do this several times in the past at home. The silage ferments well and the cows showed no palatability concerns. The feed values when we did it were quite good (in fact one year too good for beef cows). One thing you will have to watch is the moisture content; you may have to let the swath wilt a while before cutting and putting it in the pit.

As for baling yes it will work but the stems become a bit coarse and we lose some leaf material. If silage is not an option what about round bale silage. Here are a couple of good links for round bale silage. http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/esb/afmrc/673.html http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/financial/farm/cap03s01.html and http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/financial/farm/cap03s01.html

[hgb]

Thanks, for the information, the canola is basically just finished blooming. Bushel prospects are slim due to extreme flower blasting, but a good stand. So for silage the canola might be the best bet. As for when to cut it I imagine sooner the better?

[flatbroke]

Thanks very much. I hadn't considered r.b. silage, but it looks like that might be a good option. Desperate times....

[Bruce14]

If silaging canola are there any previous chemical applications you have to be concerned about? Some of the chemicals such as Liberty say not to use crop for feed prior to crop maturity. Is this because of residue or just because the testing hasn't been done.

[cowman]

Like that about the 60 ft. swather with the foam markers! Always appreciate a laugh in these trying times!