Monthly Archives: September 2012

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Silo Gas Alert from OMAFRA

Silo Gas Alert

There is increased potential for high nitrates and therefore silo gas (nitrogen dioxide) in recently harvested corn silage due to the dry growing season this year.

Farmers exposed to silo gas are at risk of severe respiratory distress, permanent damage to lungs, and even sudden death.

Reports of silo gas are coming in. Some of the corn in these silos did not appear to be severely stressed in the field. Precautions should always be taken in tower silo situations.

Silo gas is produced almost immediately after filling a silo. The greatest risk is the first 12 to 60 hours after filling the silo, and then risk declines for approximately four to six weeks when silage fermentation is complete. Silo gas has a bleach-like odour and may be visible as a reddish-brown haze. However, it is not always visible.

Nitrogen dioxide is heavier than air, therefore it tends to be located just above the silage surface. It may flow down silo chutes and into feed rooms. Tower silos are at greater risk because the silo gas is contained at the silage surface level, and operators often enter the silo after filling to level silage and set up the unloader.

When inhaled, nitrogen dioxide mixes with body moisture to form nitric acid which causes severe burning of the lungs and the rest of the respiratory system. Pulmonary edema results. Victims often collapse. Other people attempting a rescue can also be overcome. Farmers exposed to silo gas should get immediate medical attention.

Do not enter a silo during the risk period without wearing an appropriate self-contained breathing apparatus. Before entering the silo, ventilate it by running the forage blower for 30 minutes and leave it running while inside. Also ventilate the silo room and chute. Post appropriate warning signs, and keep people and animals away.

For more information on preventing injury or death from silo gas, refer to:

Farmers with concerns about silo gas should contact the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, (formerly the Ontario Farm Safety Association) at 1-877-494-9777.

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Resource for farmers experiencing weather challenges available through OMAFRA

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) have resources for Ontario farmers experiencing weather challenges. Farmers can access the field and production alternatives at www.ontario.ca/agweatherissues or they can call the ministry’s Agricultural Information Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or email ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca

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Help spread the word about the Sylvite Agri Services Breakfast at COFS for OSCIA members

Email invitations have now been issued to all Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) members in the Golden Horseshoe (GHSCIA).  Members are reminded they need to provide proof of membership for the roving breakfast offered by Sylvite Agri Services and a print out of this personalized invitation will be a guarantee of your quickest way to gain access to the breakfast.

Breakfast includes pea meal bacon on a bun, juice and coffee and will be offered in an informal roving style from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on each morning of the show, Tuesday through Thursday, next week. The Sylvite tent is located beside the OSCIA/Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) tents and plots. Admittance is good for one OSCIA member plus a guest.

If you are thinking of coming to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) next week in Woodstock and will be carpooling with other OSCIA members to the event, if their email is not registered on the database they will not have this handy printout. Please help spread the word with your fellow OSCIA neighbours and friends that they are also welcome to attend, however membership will need to be confirmed before they can be admitted.

What counts as proof of membership? A current membership card or a receipt from your local county association. If you have neither, membership can be confirmed on site through the organization’s online member database–it just might take a bit longer that is all.

There is always lots to see and do at COFS, including all the demonstrations as part of the OSCIA/OMAFRA display, including the soil pit, soil amendment plots, cover crop options and other displays. We encourage you to stop by the display and have a chat with the OMAFRA Field Crop Unit staff, OSCIA Regional Communications Coordinators (RCC) and program representatives from each the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and the Grow Your Farm Profits (GYFP) programs. There will also be details on the new “Grasslands Habitat” and “Species at Risk” Farm Incentive Programs on site.

We hope to see you there.