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 Flexibility key to silo bag success 

Flexibility key to silo bag success

03 Dec, 2008 12:32 PM
While there's debate as to the true economics associated with storing grain in new-style silo bags, there's no doubt that farmers are voting with their feet by buying them in huge numbers, principally to augment existing on-farm storeage systems.

Queensland producer Wayne Newton, who farms near Dalby, is a good example, noting the technique had surfaced on the back of Queensland grain growers enjoying back-to-back summer and winter crop harvests, plus expectations of another sizeable summer crop continuing to build.

"Last year's bumper sorghum crop left everybody asking 'how we going to store it' because our own storages were nowhere near big enough," he said.

"Then, this flexible system came along which is just a good add-on to permanent on-farm storage."

The noted district grain grower concedes some producers may have experienced "a few hassles" with mice and bird damage, but he says that's just par for the course when learning about any new system.

There's no doubt the immediacy of the silo bag system, which allows it to be up-and-running on a property in the aftermath of a few phone calls, is a huge drawcard, plus they help to maintain the pace of harvest during its busy peaks.

"They (silo bags) arrived at an opportune time and came with good old fashioned back up and service that people in agriculture need," Mr Newton said.

Meanwhile, a recent study funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and CSIRO showed how bag systems could improve harvest management, especially in good seasons where crops were likely to exceed existing on-farm permanent storage facilities.

The survey says the use of grain harvest bags on Australian farms is increasing with a reported 500,000 tonnes of grains stored in harvest bags during the 2005/2006 season.

Widespread drought conditions, however, severely curtailed the use during the 2006/2007 season.

Nevertheless, the upside of research into the adoption and use of silo bag technology is said to have been generally favourable with every indication its use will increase substantially during good harvest years.

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Wayne Newton says silo bag storeages are a flexible system offering “a good add-on to permanent on-farm storeage.
Wayne Newton says silo bag storeages are a flexible system offering “a good add-on to permanent on-farm storeage.
The winter crop harvest has been completed on Dalby district farmer Wayne Newton’s property, Weroona, but there’s another sizeable sizeable summer crop building in his paddocks, requiring more storeage space.
The winter crop harvest has been completed on Dalby district farmer Wayne Newton’s property, Weroona, but there’s another sizeable sizeable summer crop building in his paddocks, requiring more storeage space.
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MULTIMEDIA
03 December, 2008
POLL
Q: Would grain growers be better or worse off if AWB and ABB merge?

Better off
(48.7%)

Worse off
(36.5%)

No change
(14.8%)

Total Votes: 337
Poll Date: 30 November, 2008

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