The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand that the seasonal growth of forages allows for harvesting forage to be used as feed at a later date. Hay and silage are the two main products of forage harvested by machines during the peak growing seasons. Hay and silage production requires specific knowledge of which species are most suitable, of when and how to harvest, and of how to properly preserve the forage for the best possible quality and yield. Wise forage managers need to know that each process can be dangerous and costly if done incorrectly.