Leaving it will hinder or possibly prohibit new growth. It may be easiest to just bale it to be marketed as mulch hay to landscapers or highway departments. The bales can also simply be stacked and burned if that is permitted in your area. If you decide to burn baled hay, we strongly recommend the use of a natural fiber twine in the baling process. If it is a light cutting, ruined hay can also be spread out on the field with a tedder, preferably after being chopped by a flail mower, and left to decompose, since it does provide some fertilizer value.
Whatever choice is made, it is important for refuse hay to be dealt with. In conclusion, the best tip of all is to keep close tabs on the weather in your area before deciding to cut hay.
Forecasting has come a long way and can be fairly reliable for the 3- to 4-day span required to harvest a field. It will serve any hay producer well to become familiar with available weather apps and to use them religiously.
Join our newsletter. Email Address. They will shed water better and sag less than a soft core or less dense package. Use net wrap or plastic twine spaced no more than 4 in. Anderson recommends storing hay on elevated, well-drained spots that will prevent the bales from soaking up moisture from wet soil or standing water. Often our biggest mistake is placing bales so water that runs off of one bale ends up soaking into an adjacent bale.
Never stack round bales during the rainy season unless they are covered or unless they will be fed very soon. And avoid placing bales in a row with the twine or wrapped ends touching one another. He says the best way to store round bales is to make sure there is 1 ft. Round bales should be in rows with the flat ends butted together to form a cigar-like shape, Anderson explains. With these guidelines, Anderson says ranchers can lower storage losses, increase feed quality, and improve animal performance.
But I will keep these suggestions in mind as we put up hay this summer. Although these are pretty basic suggestions, they are good reminders as we round up forage for the winter months. How is haying going in your neck of the woods?
But be cautious, while increased bale density reduces spoilage by reducing moisture penetration, it also reduces the rate at which moisture and heat can escape from a bale. Making dense, evenly formed bales shed water better and sag less than a soft core or less dense bale. Using net wrap or plastic twine spaced no more than 4 inches apart on round bales also helps to maintain bale shape and provides a smooth surface that encourages water runoff. When stacking and storing rain damaged hay make sure that it is on a well-drained spot that prevents the bales from soaking up additional moisture from wet soil or standing water.
Using pallets, old railway ties, or anything that keeps the bales up off the ground will reduce the amount of the moisture they absorb. Never place bales so that water runs off one bale soaking into an adjacent bale, if the bales are going to be left out with no cover. These bales should be left in rows with the flat ends butted up together and arranged in rows that run north and south so that prevailing winds will not cause snow drifts during winter and so that both sides of the row can receive sunlight.
If bales are going to be stacked, make sure that they are arranged and covered as to prevent further water damage. As there seems to be more rain in the upcoming forecast, hopefully I have given everyone some reminders on how we can keep our forage quality up when dealing with that rain damaged hay to begin with. She can be reached at or smith. Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox! Our 2nd cutting alfalfa was baled when dry, but that afternoon it got rained and hailed on heavily and is still in the field.
Have same problem in SD. About one inch rain I need it for horses so will plan on giving to friend who has cattle. Afraid to feed it to horses.
I just build my Hay and now it has rained can I still feed my horses with Jose and how long do I have to leave it out to dry.
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