Silage Storage: Assessing Drinking Water Contamination Risk

For each category listed on the left that is appropriate to your situation, click the box under rank 1-4 that best applies. Your "rank number" will then be genrated on the right.

Information for this Fact Worksheet (PDF)

 

Please Select Your County:

 
Low Risk
(rank 4)
Low-Mod Risk
(rank 3)
Mod-High Risk
(rank 2)
High Risk
(rank 1)
Your Rank
1. Silage moisture content Less than 65%. Wilted silage. Between 65% and 75%. Between 76% and 85%. More than 85%. Direct-cut.

 

 
2. Silage storage
location		 At least 100 feet downslope (bunker or trench). Water drains away from storage to field or pasture. At least 100 feet downslope from well (silos, plastic tubes). At least 250 feet downslope (bunker or trench). Water drains to field or pasture. Within 50 feet of well Within 500 feet upslope (bunker or trench). Water pools or stands near storage. Within 50 feet of well (silos, plastic tubes). Within 250 feet (earthen trench). Water pools on soil surface.

 

 
3. Silage storage floor or surface
condition		 Concrete or asphalt surface. No cracks. Concrete or asphalt surface with some cracks or compacted clay soil surface. Surface has some
permeable soils (silt loam) and has some cracks.		 Surface has permeable soil (sand), not compacted.

 

 
4. Silage storage cover condition Roofed or tight fitting cover. No leaks. Cover tight-fitting (tower silo). Minor leaks repaired. Plastic covering tight (bunker or trench). Cover, but many large leaks not repaired (tower silo, bunker, or trench). No cover.

 

 
5. Leachate collection system Designed system in place and maintained. Designed system in place but not maintained. No system in place. Temporary management measures employed. No system in place. Leachate collects in
low area or moves to waterway.

 

 
6. Silo absorbents Always used. Frequently used. Periodically used. Not used.

 

 
Boldface type in high risk column: Besides representing a higher-risk choice, this practice also violates Idaho law.