It's high in protein/nitrogen but it is anaerobic. So it would be useful to let it sit out and become aerobic before adding it to the garden.

How long do you think it should sit out? Like will I not be able to use it this year, or if I let it sit out for a few weeks before I plant the garden would that be good enough? Thanks.

That depends on how deep you pile it and how frequently you turn it. You should be able to tell by the smell. Once it becomes aerobic, it should gave a fresher smell.

Hay silage is chopped green hay that is packed so that air cannot in and fermented to be fed to animals It would be fine in the garden and considering that it is already ten years old I don't think it would need to sit out It also isn't what I would drive an hour to pickup call the guy and ask if he or anybody he knows has a manure pile that has been sitting composting for a while

Thanks. So is hay silage nutritionally worse for plants than composted manure? We live in an area without many farms so no matter what, I'm probably going to need to drive at least 45 minutes to pick something up. Its just a matter of, should I try to find some composted manure (it would probably be horse), or take this?

"So is hay silage nutritionally worse for plants than composted manure?"

No, better. The nutrients/protein(N) are diminished by the consuming creature.
I'd weigh the cost of gas/labor to get the silage vs. what could be obtained locally, even compost at a garden shop if a feed store isn't nearby.

My local hardware store carries composted steer manure. Like you, I don't have much access to the stuff, and certainly don't want my car smelling like "farms". :)

The steer manure I bought has done wonders for the soil so far. I don't like that I don't know the source/what the cows were fed. But it's a nice alternative. And a lot cheaper than I expected.

Kim

heirloomjunkie, keep in mind that the steer manure you buy in the stores comes from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and will be loaded with antibiotics and potential disease pathogens.

If the silage bales are 10 years old, they may be composted by now, esp if they were left out in the weather. Even if they were covered, the plastic may have been damaged and let air in. Top-quality, heavy duty greenhouse plastic doesn't usually last 10 years, and I'll guarantee you that the plastic used for silage isn't even nearly that good!

The silage is only as good as the soil it grew in. If you're in the PNW, west of the Cascades, it wasn't worth much when it was relatively fresh.

Also make sure you know who is loading them, they're very heavy. A large pickup can usually only hold one or two. Is that worth the gas? If it's an hour each way, that's probably 120 miles, if you have a truck that gets 15 mpg, that's at least 8 gallons at $4 per, $32 per trip.

If you could find horse manure (composted or fresh) much closer, it would probably be a better deal, esp if they have money and feed quality alfalfa and grain.

An alternative idea is to do some cover cropping. Find what is suitable for your soil and climate. You MUST do your homework here!

What part of the country do you live in?

Sue