Proper Farm Silos Benefit Your Farm Operation

The type of farming you have, the number of acres in your farm and the amount of money you want to spend on your farm silo all figure into the selection process.  Whether to buy a new silo or build a silo will be one of the decisions you will need to make.  You can also purchase a used farm silo to suit your needs. 

For those who are new to the world of farm silos, it might be a good idea to work with a team experienced in storing food stuffs for farm animals.  The folks at Harvestore (http://www,harveststore.com) have the know how to help make sure you get the farm silo that’s right for you.  Peruse their site for information about the distinctions between the different kinds of farm silos.  Learn about farm silo construction and about loading silage into the container for storage.  Once you’ve decided the type of silo that might be right for you, Harvestore has an extensive nationwide network of distributors that will have your unit up and ready for use in no time.

Different Types of Farm Silo Construction

Bunker and tower are the two main types of farm silos.  Bunkers are generally the less expensive type of farm silo construction.  They also take less time to erect.  A bunker silo is basically three walls 10 to 15 feet tall with the silage stored in the center and a tarp or some other heavy covering laid over the top.  Silage can be removed by a lift or livestock can graze from the open fourth side of the unit.  Tower silos are generally 45 to 90 feet tall, made of steel and have permanent cap style coverings. 

Livestock food stuffs are piped into the silo and removed through unloading equipment built into the tower.  Many tower silos have sweep arms that keep the silage from fermenting beyond the appropriate tolerance.  Both types of farm silo construction are considered much better ways of storing feed than merely putting it in bags or rolling it into bundles.  However, tower silos are thought to store silage more efficiently.  They experience less physical loss of food stuffs and they also keep the silage fresher and more nutritious. 

Consider a Used Farm Silo

Bunker style farm silos are low cost solutions to feeding livestock but they are also low tech.  Storing and removing the silage can be awkward and allowing livestock to feed directly form the side opening of the bunker can lead to loss of forage and to forage that isn’t as healthy for the herd.  Tower silos allow for better silage rotation, less nutritional loss and less loss by weight.  Still, a tower silo can be expensive to build, particularly if it is highly automated. 

One way to gain the benefits of a tower silo without paying all of the costs is to buy a used farm silo.  Another way to lower the cost of a tower type silo is to buy used loading equipment.  Buying a used farm silo and used silo loading equ9ipment directly from another cattle rancher or dairy farmer is one option.  However, used equipment bought in this manner rarely has any type of warranty.  It also requires that you make arrangements for dismantling, transporting, and re-erecting the silo.  At any point along the line the farm silo can be damaged which can quickly eat into the savings you accrue from buying it used.  One way to ensure both the quality of the used farm silo and make sure that it is broken down and built up correctly is to buy it through a dealer who specializes in used farm equipment. 

Another way is to search online sites that specialize in advertising used farm equipment like Agriseek (http://www.agriseek.com)  Agriseek has a variety of used farm equipment on sale from all around the country.  You can also find dealers who serve the used farm equipment market and even folks who specialize in tearing down, moving and rebuilding items like a used farm silo.

Grain Silo Farm Painting Profitable and Fun

Grain silo farm painting is becoming more and more common.  Drive through farm country and you may well see a number of silos bedecked with all sorts of art.  Some of the designs will be strictly representational while other grain silo farm painting may be wildly expressionistic.  Painting a farm silo is also a creative way to protect the silo from the elements.  Artists often use the whole length of a tower silo to tell a story or they may use several silos to create a canvas.  Increasingly grain silo farm painting can also be a source of revenue for the silo’s owner. 

Sometimes, the farm silos may advertise the facility itself.  They may inform passers by about the services offered by the farm or where products from the farm may be purchased.  A variety of companies use farm silos as venues for advertising.  Many times grain silo farm painting is bought by advertisers who have little or nothing to do with the farm where the silo stands.  Whereas billboards often detract from their surroundings a grain silo farm painting can advertise without taking away from its natural surroundings. 

Local attractions are a good fit for advertising via a grain silo farm painting.  Still, the subject for advertising on farm silos can also be a brand known nationwide but presented in a different light.  One of the most inviting aspects of advertising on a grain silo farm painting is the fact that it is unexpected.  People who might ignore a standard sign may be more inclined to look at advertising done through a grain silo farm painting.  

Almost any size farm receives value from the addition of one or more silos.  They allow a farmer to make more effective use of his forage.  Farm silos also keep livestock feed healthier longer.  In some cases they can even be sources of revenue and beauty.  Whether you choose to build a small bunker silo or invest in a new or used farm silo in a tower design, over the long run it will most likely be a wise purchase.