Silage Corn Harvest Intensifies in Kars' Akyaka District
· Tarım TV
In Kars' Akyaka district, the harvest and storage of silage corn, planted to meet the winter roughage needs of cattle, is ongoing.
In Kars' Akyaka district and its surrounding villages, one of the most important centers for agriculture and animal husbandry, the silage corn harvest is in full swing. Local producers, who planted corn seeds around April 20 to meet the roughage needs of cattle during the winter months, began harvesting in the first week of September after approximately a 3-4 month growing period.
Silage corn, which has undergone pest control, inter-row cultivation, fertilization, and regular irrigation during its growth, is chopped in the field by modern silage machines attached to tractors and directly loaded onto trailers. The chopped corn, transported to farms, is compacted with the help of tractors, then sealed with thick nylon covers to prevent air exposure, allowing it to ferment and be safely stored for animal feed during the harsh winter conditions.
Producer Burhan Erkılıç, emphasizing that silage corn is an indispensable feed source for both dairy and beef cattle farming in the region, provided important information about the current yield situation:
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 months | Planting-Harvest period | Growing period |
| 7-8 tonnes | Current season | Yield per decare in normal areas |
| 3-4 tonnes | Current season | Yield per decare in hail-affected areas |