Would 20 Year Old Silage In Upright Silo Make Good Mulch Or Compost For Gardens

coup

Posted 1/18/2009 20:34 (#575460)
Subject: Knocking down a silo ?

USA

Have knocked concrete stave silos down before that were empty. Have got a 20 x 80 ft that we are wanting to knock down that has about 15 ft of of 20 year old corn silage in it. Anybody ever knocked one down that still had some silage in it? Ain't quite figured how is the best way to go about doing this. Any suggestions would be appreciated. msb

Posted 1/18/2009 20:52 (#575490 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Lapel, In

A simiar situation in the 50's where silage had been left for about that long, unused : After hauling out about 3 doors of dried out silage, we found the silage as good as it was when put in. Got a local gardener or composter? The silage should be easy to give away. cyfarm

Posted 1/18/2009 21:20 (#575557 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

Denison, Iowa

If you want to get rid of the old silage, start it on fire. When I was a kid we had a silo catch on fire, it WAS clear full(40+foot). After burning for about 3 week it was a pile of ashes 12 feet below ground. Never filled it again. I have heard of stretching a large and long cable around the circumference then attach it to a dozer or big tractor from a long ways away and collapse the bottom. Should work if silo is empty. Be very careful however you do it. Good luck

Mike

GangGreen

Posted 1/18/2009 21:31 (#575581 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

Eastern Iowa

It's a nerve wracking job. Only did an empty one though.

Agree about emptying it first. We had a silo with fifteen year old corn silage in it we emptied out. Looked like good feed after about three feet, but it all got mulched into the garden plot.

We took bands off as high as we could reach and then would maul out the staves until it gave way. Make sure you plan ahead so that both guys mauling have an escape path. IIRC, we were almost two thirds around with a two foot gap before it came down in a nice, neat, pile.

We set the camera for autoshutter and got some real good pics. TIIIIIIMMMMMBERRRRRRRR!!!!

johns_79

Posted 1/18/2009 22:28 (#575679 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Windom, MN

We had a guy take down a silo at an abandoned place we were burying. he wanted the staves, so he knocked out every other stave with a sledge. then he got out his 12 gauge shotgun and shot the staves that remained with a slug. thought it looked dangerous, but the silo came down nicely. Don't know about having silage inside, probably a good idea to empty it first, but maybe leaving 15 feet standing then knocking the rest down with a bulldozer might work. chafferguy

Posted 1/18/2009 22:47 (#575713 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

We knocked down a silo with about the same amount of silage in it with a track hoe. Worked well, he did a great job at a safe distance for the operator. Basically, he just punched a hole in the staves above the silage and then it tumbled over. mhredman

Posted 1/18/2009 22:57 (#575735 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

North Central Iowa

Knocked down a 16x60 concrete stave silo a year ago. It was 1/3 full of oat silage. Used a sledge hammer and started knocking in the blocks at the bottom. Knocked out the side we wanted it to fall. Just kept knocking them out evenly to the left and to the right of the center line we wanted it to fall.

We were half way around before we could tell it was starting to move. It was pretty much opposite the door side where we started. I could tell the farther we got worked around each side the blocks seemed harder to break because of the weight on them(or maybe just getting tired)

It was when we had 3/4 of them knocked out you could tell that was going to be the last swing of the sledge. It dropped then leaned and fell. It stayed completely round and together until it hit the ground in a horizontal positon. The roof blew apart and the two coons stumbled out, turned and looked at us like what the he.. is going on.

Had to bury at least half of silage, to many blocks in it to sort out. Should have recorded it
The rings ,roof, unloader and all other metal was worth about $300 last spring for scrap.

Bernie nw ON

Posted 1/18/2009 22:59 (#575740 - in reply to #575581)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Great White North

Heard this awful story once, can't remember where I heard it, could be total bs, but something to keep in mind...

Fellow was knocking in staves around the bottom of a silo with a sledgehammer, watching carefully to know when to run, figured it was about time, turned to run... and tripped over his dog. The version I heard had the dog making it out ok but the farmer not so well.

I knocked down a poured 20x72 about 5 years ago that didn't go quite as planned. It came down 4' (on one side) and got hung up, leaning at a crazy angle. It stayed that way overnight until we came up with a better plan. I was sure glad when it finally hit the ground.

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plowboy

Posted 1/18/2009 23:02 (#575742 - in reply to #575735)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

Brazilton KS

Wouldn't it be possible to just feed the silage with a loader (on the ground) and let the cows sort the blocks out?
mhredman

Posted 1/18/2009 23:19 (#575765 - in reply to #575742)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

North Central Iowa

plowboy - 1/18/2009 23:02

Wouldn't it be possible to just feed the silage with a loader (on the ground) and let the cows sort the blocks out?

Yeah that would work good but the silage was 20 years old and rotten and the cattle have been gone for 20 years also.

The silo I left standing(nice lookin one) 20x60 was full of haylage. It caught fire(20 yrs ago) and smoldered away for 1 1/2 years. Its empty except for some ashes in the bottom.Thats why no more cattle.

braunt01

Posted 1/18/2009 23:29 (#575778 - in reply to #575679)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Princeton, MN

A neighbor of ours did the same only with a 30-06. I didnt get to see it but I heardit came down real nice sed

Posted 1/18/2009 23:38 (#575784 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

southwest illinois

coup

I'd get a dynamite man from Missouri...put a charge under the footing...or in first rung of staves
I don't know how expensive they are...but would seem to me to be the safest...might be cheaper than what you'd think.

greasegun

Posted 1/18/2009 23:57 (#575800 - in reply to #575490)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

W.C. Mo.

It was really good to see you in Indy this week, Bob. tx68

Posted 1/19/2009 00:20 (#575822 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Ontario

We knocked the blocks out of our 60 foot silo around the bottom on the side we wanted it to fall.
When it finally fell it fell straight down about 20 feet and landed upright on a bad angle like the
picture above. No one wanted to go near it after that and we had to get a crane to work on it
from the top down. sed

Posted 1/19/2009 00:29 (#575828 - in reply to #575784)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

southwest illinois

coup

Blasting laws haven't changed since 9-11....those guys might be tickled to do your job since they won't have to drill in rock (normally drilling in rock for rock excavations) plus they'll be back home in a Missouri tavern by noon!!!!!!!!!

thefoolishfarmer

Posted 1/19/2009 08:41 (#575969 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

South cental Ohio

Can't give you any help but I have 2 silos that i'm going to take down. I'm hoping that they will fell like taking a tree down. I'm wondering if a guy should put a cable on them before i start swing away with the sledge. A small tug might be helpfull if the silo wants to go straight down. By the way, I got a twelve-pack if somebody with a little experiance wants to come over and help. OMC260

Posted 1/19/2009 09:26 (#576014 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

Sioux Center, Iowa

With high feed prices still fresh in our minds, I'd sure try to get some value out of that silage if it's any good at all. A lot of heifer growers are looking for some "filler" . jakencks

Posted 1/19/2009 10:52 (#576102 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Use it as an excuse to site in your high power rifle. Shoot the botttom bricks. steadyman

Posted 1/19/2009 11:02 (#576112 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: This fella can do it!

Treynor IA

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Ernie

Posted 1/19/2009 11:45 (#576143 - in reply to #575969)
Subject: Wait for me !

North End I-15

I will help with the 12 pack and go for more if needed . :>)

I love a good demolition project . I think I missed my calling .

KDD

Posted 1/19/2009 11:54 (#576154 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Leesburg, Ohio

We had two 40'ers taken down this summer by a nearby Amish family. On the first one, they just went around the side we wanted it to fall towards with sledge hammers and knocked out the whole bottom row of staves 1/2 way around. Then one guy stuck a spud bar in the joint between two staves on the back side side and pried up. Fell right over in a cloud of dust. Whole deal only took about twenty minutes. They came back next day with a dump truck and skid loader and cleaned it up.

They wanted another one we had at home, and made a deal with them to demolish the first one before they could take down and move the one they wanted to rebuild.

These were empty, so I can't help with the loaded ones.

If anyone has a good method of unloading about 30' of 10 year old silage out of an 80' Harvestore that the unloader doesn't work on, let me know...got one we'd like to re-hab for grain storage, but need to get it empty first. Would like to repair the unloader and run it out, but owner says the steel floor is coming up in chunks preventing even a good unloader from running.

Edited by KDD 1/19/2009 11:58

Bill Moyer

Posted 1/19/2009 13:32 (#576227 - in reply to #575581)
Subject: GangGreen

Coldwater, Michigan

"IIRC" what in the world does that mean? Some of you use that every once in awhile, and I still have not figured it out. Thanks!

Edited by Bill Moyer 1/19/2009 13:32

Tim in WI

Posted 1/19/2009 13:39 (#576231 - in reply to #576227)
Subject: RE: GangGreen

Embarrass WI

Bill, that would be--"If I Recall Correctly"

HTH

That means "Hope This Helps"

Bill Moyer

Posted 1/19/2009 13:42 (#576235 - in reply to #576231)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Coldwater, Michigan

It did! Buster 50

Posted 1/19/2009 13:59 (#576255 - in reply to #575460)
Subject: RE: Knocking down a silo ?

North West IA/western AZ

I've done 2 14x45s with no plaster left inside. Pull off as many bands as you can reach. Mine were empty. The 1st one we left 2 blocks the direction we wanted it to fall, then knocked all blocks on both sides out just over 1/2 way around, then useing a 45' chain pulled the 2 blocks out. The 2nd one I did the same except that I added a cable about 3/4 of the way up(attached to a band). This made sure it came the way I wanted.
I watched a neighbor knock down a 20x60 with good plaster. He marked 3 blocks evenly around, then knocked all the others out,leaving it stand on the 3 blocks. When he pulled one of the blocks it dropped 6 or 8 feet and stopped like the above pics, only at a steeper angle. I wasn't there when he finished it, but he said he took an electric impact wrench and could walk down the wall taking bands off. When he got close to the bottom, the last band he loosened came off real hard. When that nut came off it just collapsed. I don't think that sounds very safe, that's why removing a bunch of bands 1st should help it collapse. Stay safe! headerpuncher

Posted 1/19/2009 14:00 (#576257 - in reply to #576154)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

Ea. Washington

Don't do it like the first guy but watch this old guy from England, he knows how to do a lot of things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DDIxwg6SL4&feature=related# http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=945T56ZxFkE&feature=related# iseedit

Posted 1/19/2009 14:33 (#576289 - in reply to #576235)
Subject: Re: Bill ~

central - east central Minnesota -

This link helps - sometimes . .. . http://www.acronymfinder.com/

toolman

Posted 1/19/2009 16:23 (#576392 - in reply to #576257)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

That first one happened about 20 miles from here several years ago. Someone up above must have been watching over him that day! Dumb Farmer

Posted 1/19/2009 18:33 (#576525 - in reply to #576154)
Subject: Re: Knocking down a silo ?

East Palestine, Ohio (Columbiana Co.)

KDD what do you need to repair the unloader? Chances are you can get the unloader to unload if you short arm the unloader, and are able to get a bridge established inside the silo. Chances are, the floor is coming up at the trough edges or the outside edge next to the wall. Even if the chain has caught the floor at some of the weld seams you should still be able toget the unloader to jump past bad spots by reversing motor at bad spots while keeping forward tension on the arm advance. The first pass around will be the tricky one, if you can get that, you got er licked!!

Any questions feel free to e-mail........Good Luck!......The Dumb Farmer

coup

Posted 1/19/2009 22:42 (#576950 - in reply to #575490)
Subject: Re: MSB, will they take possums also?

USA

Son climbed in the silo today and was greeted by 4 possums, looks like they have been living in the silage and having the time of their life.. Said they climbed up the doors in the chute to the top of the silo. Kooiker

Posted 1/20/2009 00:20 (#577093 - in reply to #576112)
Subject: RE: This fella can do it!

I love that guys bit about tearing down a house.