Limerick City and County Council wishes to remind all Farmers of their silage obligations

Silage effluent is one of the most potent agricultural pollutants and its impact on the aquatic environment can be devastating as it is 200 times more polluting than raw domestic sewage.  It is essential that all storage facilities are fit for purpose and that any effluents resulting from silage are collected, stored and managed in a manner which ensures that water quality is not impacted.

• Ensure that the silage base and associated collecting channels are free from defects. Where repairs are required seek professional advice and only use proprietary sealants where required.  See Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine building specifications: 
• S. 128  - Minimum Specification for Concrete Silage Bases &

•  S.128A - Minimum Specification for Re-Surfacing of Silo Floors

   

• All silage should be stored on a concrete base. Do not store pit silage on a hardcore base even if it is very dry silage and was made in ideal conditions.
• Ensure you know how much silage your slab has the capability of storing. Effluent issues arise when more silage is ensiled than the slab is designed to hold.  Additional silage should be stored on another slab or made into round bales.
• Where there is inadequate facilities for the collection and storage of any potential effluent from silage bales, bales may only be stored at a maximum height of two bales, and at least 20m from surface water or a drinking water abstraction point. 
• Wilt the grass prior to ensiling - this helps ensure that dry matter (dm) content is at a level where release of effluent is minimized (at least 30% dm should be attained).
• Ensure that grass is kept behind the drainage channels and all channels are free from blockages.
• Ensure that the polythene cover extends beyond the channels.
• All effluents should enter the channels under the cover of the silage polythene and the edge of the ensiled grass should not extend onto or over any channel.
• Check that the collection tank is fit-for-purpose, is never allowed to overflow and that all effluents are being collected.
• Regularly check field drains and streams (throughout the year) to ensure that farm effluents are always directed towards effluent storage facilities. This is particularly important at silage-making time and when the pit is opened over the winter period. 
• Diligently inspect the effluent collection tank for the first few days as directly ensiled grass can release up to 30 litres of effluent per tonne.
• Where silage effluent is to be land spread it should be diluted at least 1:1 with slurry.  Ensure that adequate buffer zones are maintained to ensure waters are protected.
• In the event that silage effluent is observed leaking from the pit or bales ensure that measures are taken to prevent its entry to waters (i.e. break the pathway to waters).  
• You are obliged to report any discharge of effluent entering waters to Limerick City and County Council on 061-556000 or email customerservices@limerick.ie.