The first includes making sure the storage structure is filled in a timely fashion. Most field observations indicate that producers who fill their silos in a shorter time frame will have the better corn silage.
Oxygen consuming aerobes become active at the silo surface between silo filling days.
Often, dark brown to black bands can be observed across the face of a bunker that correspond to the number of days to fill the silo. Furthermore, slow silo filling of hybrids that have a similar relative maturity results in a silo with progressively different nutrient qualities. Sharp knives ensure a clean chop and prevent shredding to decrease chances of effluent. This adjustment is critical to maximize forage compaction for efficient fermentation while providing sufficient particle length for proper rumination. The person on the pack tractor has the most important role in filling bunker silos.