While silage is highly nutritious, fermentation processes can cause effluents to leach, seriously polluting water bodies and reducing the nutritional value of the feed.
“We need to look at the whole chain – from growing silage to storing it, and finding ways to reuse silage plastic and effluents. Farmers need practical guidelines that are applicable to their farms.”
adds Silja Lehtpuu, project coordinator.
"We have set up trials on 25 pilot farms and we are organising field days and exchange visits to demonstrate innovative farming practices. We have, for instance, discussed which types of grass varieties lead to good quality silage, how to adapt to difficult weather conditions, or which production techniques have the best
environmental and economic results.” Silja concludes: “We need to address this in cross-border cooperation because national efforts alone are not sufficient. By 2025, about 200 farmers in Estonia, Latvia and Finland will have gained new usable knowledge on how to reduce silage effluent leaching.”
The „Sustainable Silage“ project will focus on reducing silage effluents and nutrient leakages in a full cycle of silage production. Thanks to international cooperation between 3 countries, the project will be able to test and introduce to farmers new and innovative agri-environmental methods and farming practices.
For further information:
Kalvi Tamm
"Sustainable Silage" Project Manager
Senior Researcher and Head of Agrotechnology Unit
[email protected]
