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Wisconsin guidelines for emergency silage storage

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has published an outline for silage storage options for large-scale livestock operations dealing with drought. The plans are specific to CAFO’s, operations with more than 1,000 animal units (700 dairy cows).

One option is to construct new permanent feed storage areas; the DNR will work to approve design plans quickly. The main focus of a plan should be controlling runoff from the structure.

A second option is to use existing pads or storage areas which have not been used for feed in the past for instance manure pads. Here again the main focus is controlling runoff from the area.

If neither of the first two options is available, the third possibility is to store feed outside, off a designed storage area. It cannot be on bare ground and must be covered to prevent infiltration of precipitation. Feed with more than 75 percent moisture will not be allowed; the stack cannot exceed 40,000 feet and cannot be there more than six months. There are also minimum distance requirements from wells, lakes and streams, wetlands and others. All WPDES permit conditions apply.

The complete details are available on the DNR website, use “drought” as the keyword. Contact the DNR for more information and to apply.

Recommendations for smaller livestock operations were published in late July and are based on best practice studies and federal standards for temporary unconfined stacks of manure.