Abstract This invention relates to the preparation, handling and storage of silage, haylage, high moisture grain and the like and in particular to a technique for preparing silage and the like in a manner which eliminates the need for storage facilities such as silos and much of the equipment conventionally employed in preparing silage and distributing the same. The technique involves the packaging of silage and the like in self-supporting units which are portable in the sense of being movable by conventional fork lift equipment and the like and which are protected against spoilage by aerobic bacteria. The technique includes the steps of compacting batches of fresh-chopped silage into bale form, preferably on a pallet, and covering and sealing the bale with a protective cover to prevent spoilage. In the preferred embodiment the compaction, palleting and covering are carried out by a mobile machine which is also adapted to cut and chop the crop as the machine moves over a field.
A method for preparing a fresh-chopped green crop material and a hIgh moisture grain material for storage and subsequent stock feeding comprising: feeding a mass of the material onto a pallet located within a compression chamber; mechanically compressing the material on the pallet into the form of a highdensity bale of substantial size having an interior air content which will not support appreciable aerobic bacterial disintegration and having a weight appropriate for handling by mobile power-driven lifting equipment; packaging the bale in a substantially airtight flexible cover until needed for stock feeding by enveloping the upper end and sides of the bale with said cover and sealing the cover to the pallet so that the cover closely engages the bale; and removing substantially all the air which initially occupies the space between the bale and the cover.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for preparing a fresh-chopped green crop material and a hIgh moisture grain material for storage and subsequent stock feeding comprising: feeding a mass of the material onto a pallet located within a compression chamber; mechanically compressing the material on the pallet into the form of a highdensity bale of substantial size having an interior air content which will not support appreciable aerobic bacterial disintegration and having a weight appropriate for handling by mobile power-driven lifting equipment; packaging the bale in a substantially airtight flexible cover until needed for stock feeding by enveloping the upper end and sides of the bale with said cover and sealing the cover to the pallet so that the cover closely engages the bale; and removing substantially all the air which initially occupies the space between the bale and the cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the mass of material is compressed to a density of about 60 pounds per cubic foot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the mass of material weighs about 3 tons.