News

Research looks at wax to seal forage bunkers

A Wisconsin farmer has teamed up with the University of Wisconsin to expand feed storage research.

Ron Brooks and his daughter Zoey Nelson dairy and raise feed for their herd south of Waupaca, Wisconsin, where for the past couple of years, Ron says they have experimented with one of their silage bunkers. “I kind of expounded on Larry Berger’s research that he did at the University of Illinois, and took it a little farther than he took it. What we’re doing is we’re spraying on a wax product onto our bunkers and eliminating the need for tires and plastic.”

Brooks says the wax-based product is edible, saves labor, reduces waste, and improves farm safety. “It’s a win-win all the way around, safety-wise, we’re not putting plastic in landfills, and I think we’re getting close to a product that is commercially viable.”

Brooks has turned remaining research over to the University of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, where they are working to increase the melting temperature of the wax so it can be applied successfully in the summer.