Silo

Silos in Hidalgo, Mexico

A silo is a building that holds silage. Silage is green chopped plants (usually grass or corn stalks) that is kept wet (this is different than hay, which is stored dry). It ferments and can be kept all winter. It makes good food for livestock, particularly dairy cows.

History

The silo is a fairly recent part of the farmyard. It was first widely used in the late 1800's. They are still used today.

Structure

While silage can be stored in many ways, the typical silo is a tall cylinder. It usually has a cone or dome cap on top. There is an opening at the top to put silage in, and doors running down one side to take it out. Originally a farmer would climb the outside of the silo to the top of the silage, go inside, and shovel out the silage. There is typically a chute on the outside, and the silage would fall down the chute, where it could be gathered and fed to the cows. Now there is machinery that does that job.

Silo Media

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  Grain bins in Cashton, Wisconsin

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  Grain elevators are composed of groups of grain silos, such as these at Port Giles, South Australia.

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  Silos in Acatlán, Hidalgo, Mexico

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  Concrete stave silo under construction in 2015

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  High contrast image showing the intermeshed concrete staves, and how the lower hoops are aligned over the stave edges.

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  Small stave silos can be expanded upward. More hoops are added to strengthen the lower staves.

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  Low-oxygen Harvestore tower silos

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  Bunker silo being filled and compacted.

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  8 foot diameter by 150 foot silo bag shown just after filling and sealing.

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  This bin contains 27 variations of stone, sand and gravel, Copenhagen, Denmark

• video of a PTO-driven towed New Holland forage harvester, John Deere 4020 tractor, and Gehl forage wagon.

• Short video of the steps involved for filling a farm tower silo.