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Shelf Life Of Silage Inoculants

Jan 07, 2015

By  Marvin Hall

Professor of Forage Management

Some farmers have already or soon will be purchasing and taking delivery of the silage inoculants they will be applying this year. Proper storage of inoculants is crucial to maintaining their viability and effectiveness. The “working parts” of an inoculant are the bacteria that it contains. These bacteria are alive and relatively fragile organisms. Here are two things to remember about keeping bacteria alive and inoculants viable.

  • Excessive heat and moisture during storage decreases viability.
  • Repeated freeze thaw cycles decrease viability

One simple option is to store inoculants in a refrigerator where they are kept cool and dry but do not repeatedly freeze and thaw.

Source:psu.edu