Championing quality silage from field to feed

This SCF Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project aims at improving the quality, yield and cost‑effectiveness of silage across the South Coast.

Over three years, the project will deliver a hands‑on “Silage Challenge”, assessing a range of crops and pastures while building producer skills around species selection, crop and paddock management, cutting and wilting timing, and ensiling techniques. The goal is to reduce variation in silage outcomes and improve feed quality, storage efficiency and value for money.

A key focus will be exploring emerging legume options, including faba beans, as high‑quality silage. Demonstrating faba bean silage provides an opportunity to de‑risk grain legume production, improve nitrogen inputs in rotations, and offer flexible feed options in years when grain prices are unfavourable.

Through workshops, peer learning and farm-scale production of silage, the project will generate local yield data, feed test results and cost–benefit analyses. Outcomes will be captured in a regional silage benchmark report, giving producers practical take‑home guidance to improve livestock performance, feed security and business resilience.