Pit Silage: Would you consider it on the East Coast of Tassie?

In April 2025, East Coast Primary Producers gathered at Mayfield Estate for a practical and forward-looking discussion about pit silage — an alternative fodder storage method that might suit our conditions better than you’d think. 

Special guests Henric Nicholas, Daniel Goss from Tas Stockfeed, and local livestock vet Bruce Jackson shared their experiences and insights into how pit silage could become a valuable tool for farmers on the East Coast. The event was proudly supported by the Tas Farm Innovation Hub.

The difference between pit silage and wrapped bale silage

Silage is fermented, high-moisture fodder made from grass or crops, used to feed livestock when fresh pasture isn't available.

While many are familiar with wrapped bale silage, pit silage involves chopping the forage finely and storing it in a large pit lined with plastic and weighted with tyres. 

Henric explained that he uses a precision chopper to short-chop the grass, which is especially important for feeding sheep effectively. A well-made pit is then sealed carefully with plastic to create an anaerobic environment that preserves the fodder for years  or even decades.

One of the standout messages was that pit silage can last up to 20 years if stored properly. Henric had samples that were five years old – when passed around, the sample smelt clean, sweet, and fermented exactly as it should. 

Daniel from Tas Stockfeed tested older samples, confirming high nutritional value even after 20 years.

Henric shared that even though the right conditions to make pit silage might only occur once every five years, it is still worth the investment. Ideally, this follows a good spring with excess pasture. The harvesting and pit-filling process is quick and can typically be completed within three days, making hundreds of tons of feed.

Is pit silage worth it?

Once the initial hurdles around equipment are overcome, making and storing silage to feed in a drought is significantly more economical than buying in other forms of fodder.

Henric shared that pit silage costs about a third of what wrapped hay does per ton, based on 2020 figures. 

It’s a cost-effective reserve, especially valuable for drought years. A practical system is feeding grain and silage on alternating days, where grain delivers energy and silage provides essential fiber and rumen stimulation. 

Unlike grain, which requires careful ramp-up to avoid acidosis, stock can be put straight onto full silage rations safely. 

Bruce Jackson emphasised that pit silage provides a strategic backup, allowing farmers to maintain stock without heavy reliance on grain or expensive hay when drought hits.

If you have access to good spring pasture growth and suitable storage sites, pit silage could be an excellent long-term strategy for dry seasons. It offers a cost-effective, low-maintenance feed reserve, easing pressure when grain and hay prices spike. 

A huge thanks again to Henric Nicholas, Daniel Goss, and Bruce Jackson for sharing their practical knowledge, and to East Coast Primary Producers and the Tas Farm Innovation Hub for making these learning opportunities possible. Stay tuned for more events like this as part of our goal to help farmers on the East Coast stay resilient, informed, and connected.

This article was written as part of Grey Shrike’s activities for the East Coast Farming Futures project and originally published on the East Coast Primary Producers website. We have republished it here with minor edits for clarification.

Reflections on the East Coast Primary Producers Skills and Governance Workshop

In September 2024, the East Coast Primary Producers Association (ECPP) committee gathered at the stunning Mayfield Estate for a valuable workshop on skills and governance.

The workshop was coordinated as part of Grey Shrike’s project management work for the East Coast Farming Futures project and acilitated by Michelle Swallow from Leadership and Change Consultants.

The session gave us an important opportunity to refine our governance approach and strengthen the growing professionalism of our organisation.

We began by reviewing our five-year strategy, which was developed last year with the assistance of Sally Murfitt from Inspire Ag and some of our dedicated committee members. This strategy will soon be available on our website, outlining a clear direction for ECPPA. During the workshop, we discussed how this long-term plan can guide our key performance indicators (KPIs) and short-term targets, ensuring we remain both strategic and adaptable in our operations.

A significant part of the workshop focused on identifying and addressing key risks to our organisation. We explored important areas such as cyber risk and funding risk, which are crucial to maintaining our sustainability and securing our future. Michelle highlighted the importance of understanding that committee members' duties are equivalent to those of any board member. We reviewed the legal framework that governs committee responsibilities, including the Corporations Act 2001, ACNC guidelines, and not-for-profit standards.

It was fantastic working with Michelle, who really met us where we were and facilitated open, productive discussions. Everyone involved came away with a deeper understanding of their roles and how they can contribute more effectively to the organisation.

This workshop was funded by The Tas Farm Innovation Hub, through the Federal Drought Fund. The purpose of this funding is not only to strengthen our organisation but to upskill members in the community, ensuring the future sustainability of groups like ours. The existence of such groups is critical in building resilience to drought and climate change, through the adoption of innovative farming techniques and by enabling peer-to-peer learning. Initiatives like this ensure we are better equipped to face the challenges of the future.

We also examined the legal requirements of committee governance, looking at the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) principles of good governance. This included discussions about developing our terms of reference and board charters, which are essential for building a strong governance framework as we move forward.

In the meeting that followed, the committee made excellent progress towards setting clear goals to improve governance, leading to better outcomes for our members and stakeholders.

Keep an eye out as we continue to grow and enhance our professionalism, especially in the way we engage with our members and the wider community. Our strategic plan will soon be available on our website, offering a concise and accessible overview of our goals and future direction.

This article was written as part of Grey Shrike’s activities for the East Coast Farming Futures project and originally published on the East Coast Primary Producers website. We have republished it here with minor edits for clarification.

Insights From The eID Workshop With SheepMetriX

On August 21, 2024, a small but passionate group of sheep producers gathered in Triabunna to learn about the benefits of electronic identification (eID) tags for sheep.

The workshop, led by Sally Martin from SheepMetriX covered the essentials of eID, including Tasmanian mandates and available rebates.

Sally also explained how eID tags offer an opportunity to transition from mob-based data to individual animal data, which can have a positive and compounding impact on your business.

The key takeaway from Sally’s presentation was that the technology itself won’t make the difference—it’s how you use it and the data you collect that will truly enhance your farming operation.

As Sally put it, “Using eID technology allows the selection of animals based on their performance for important traits in your breeding and management events.”

Throughout the session, Sally guided the group through developing a plan, the different eID technologies available, what data to collect and when, managing and storing data, and effectively using that data.

After a delicious lunch, we visited Grindstone Bay, where Will Fergusson showcased his shearing shed setup.

It was fascinating to see the scales in action and experience how barcode scanning works during shearing. Will also shared his tagging system for recording which ewes had been joined to which rams.

One of the key takeaways for me was learning that a hogget’s first full 12-month shearing can be indicative of its lifetime performance.

For example, if a hogget’s fleece weight is significantly lower than the rest of the flock, it will likely remain so throughout its life. This type of information is incredibly valuable, as it allows you to cull low performers and reduce variation in your flock’s performance.

Other important metrics you can measure using individual animal data include reproductive efficiency and growth weight.

As part of the course, Sally will be offering follow-up sessions with producers. Additionally, there are online Excel courses available to participants—because who doesn’t need to brush up on their Excel skills?

A big thank you to Nikki Madsen and Faith at the Village in Triabunna for hosting us and staying until the session ended. Thanks also to Wing and Will Fergusson for sharing their story and shearing shed with us!

This article was written as part of Grey Shrike’s activities for the East Coast Farming Futures project and originally published on the East Coast Primary Producers website. We have republished it here with minor edits for clarification.