SILAGE PITS
If you are looking for ways to save money and invest in your farm, then a Silage Pit may be the option for you. Many farmers are embarking on Silage Pit projects in order to improve the productivity of their farm. Although it is a big initial investment, it is really no comparison when you look at the cost to produce dry matter, it shows you there really is no room for mistakes when it comes to silage, and having a high-quality Silage Pit is a non-negotiable.
But why does your farm need a Silage Pit? Aside from what we discussed above, in 2022 the Scottish Government introduced new rules on how silage should be stored to protect the environment. Silage can be very highly polluting and acidic and so should be collected and stored. They state in the rules “Applications of silage effluent to land should not exceed 25m3/ha (2,225 gallons/acre) at a dilution rate of 1:1 with water.”
If your Silage Pit was constructed prior to September 1991, then you have until January 2026 to upgrade it to meet current requirements. Get in touch if you need advice on the requirements and scroll down to see the silage options we offer.
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What kind of Silage Pits do we offer?
Each farm is so unique, which is why there are a number of different Silage Pits we can install for our customers, whether it is a simple Pit created using Concrete Panels or a full-on Steel Framed Building, we can do it all.
Steel Framed Silage Pits
Steel Framed Buildings is what we do best, as we have been installing them for farmers since 1947, so of course this is the type of Silage Pit we would recommend. We would sit down and discuss with you the kind of farm you have and the requirements for your Silage Pit to determine how we would design the internals, and how we would choose the different features such as roof and steel finish. One of the biggest benefits of a building is that you can use it for other purposes during the off-season. However, it also provides more reliability than the other styles, as well as control of rainwater, improved working conditions, and a higher quality end product.
Concrete Panel Silage Clamps
An unsheltered Concrete Panel Silage Pit is the ideal solution if you are looking for a secure structure, but without the added expense of a whole new building. The benefits of using concrete panels is that they are readily available in a variety of choices, and they are constructed in a speedy fashion by our team. This is also a fantastic option if you are more limited on space, as a Silage Clamp of this type can be made as big or small as you need.
Earth Bunded Silage Pits
This is an option for you if you have a hill on your farm that could be dug into to create a slage pit, an ideal way to utilise wasted space. The earth is shaped into a banking, then covered with an impermeable membrane, to protect from silage effluent spillages. Depending on your ground, we may also recommend installing concrete panels along the bottom for extra reinforcement, but it’s totally farm dependent. The benefits of this pit it is cheaper and saves a lot of space, however it is not as strong long term, and may need extra reinforcement over time.
What size should your silage pit be?
The size of your pit will be determined by a number of factors including:
• The method of filling
• The amount of grass to be ensiled
• The storage depth and width
• The space available
• The volume of silage
• Good management
All these factors will also be determined by your farm type and the number of livestock you hold. We would recommend future proofing your investment and taking into consideration how much your farm is likely to expand.
If you are expecting to provide a large amount of silage, note that you can’t fill the pit higher than the retaining walls anywhere other than the centre. In this case, it may be a smarter decision to build multiple smaller pits rather than one large one. If you are unsure about your requirements, please speak to the team.
If you are considering investing in a new silage pit, or extending your existing silage pit, we can offer a full turnkey service on projects like this, taking management of the design, site preparation, groundworks, foundations and erection, meaning there is less for you to worry about and more time to focus on running your farm.
We have been installing and erecting Silage Pits for over 40 years, meaning we can advise the best Silage Pit solution for your farm, while providing a high-quality end product that will stand for years to come as your farm expands.
Another stipulation of the new regulations is that all new silage pits must be submitted for approval 30 days before starting the new build, but our internal planning department can handle all this paperwork on your behalf.
If that sounds like something you would be interested in, then let us know the details of your proposed project and we will get an estimate put together for you.
