storing hay in wet conditions? Northerners please help?

[echo]

I'm concerned that my 600 bales of beautiful 2nd cutting orchard grass/alfalfa hay might be in danger of molding. The hay was cut and baled perfectly, but we've had a very moist summer, with alot of humidity, which the nicely dried hay has been soaking up. We've already noticed some mold on some of the outer bales. The hay is stored in a large metal barn (the half-cylinder type) with an open end and good air flow. Do any of you know of a safe system to help dry out this hay so it doesn't all end up going to the neighbor's cattle? :cry:

[Heidi]

Don't stack too tightly and fans?
Unfortunately, I think once it is baled, it is baled...and there is little you can do about the moisture content.

[Terri]

I'd make sure I got rid of any bales showing mold asap. If it is just the out side bales, maybe the moisture is coming in from along the roof line. Make sure NO bales are touching the walls or the roof. Also, did you stack it all the bales on their sides? That helps air flow too.
Just curious, why do you think the northerners would know more, I would be always worried about the hay down south were is is very humid.
Sorry to hear about this, storing that amount of hay is always a worry. I know I got about 650 bales put away myself.

[LynnG]

There can be condensation from metal buildings/roofs which drip down to the hay. Also I have seen many hay looked dry when baled, but musted up. Hay should have one of the moisture readers done to it before/after baling... my hay guys bale a few and then test it. Much hay goes thru a heat period the wek after baling. Its important I fid that there is airflow under the bales as well as around it. A problem I've seen is when I let the "hay crew" stack it, they pack it in tight where as I like to leave some airspace around the bales. Whatever is stacked on the bottom always seems to have some discoloration underneath...these are on pallots under a metal roof shed.

After stacking also, I have as much air flow as possible windows, doors, etc allowed to blow into the hay area. Also hay that has a conditioner run on it seems to fair better in storage. Again an important factor is the moisture content when actually baled. I've seen too much hay feel and look dry only to go thru a strong heat and must up. Also how tight the hay is baled can be a factor.

I know now after the fact........but all good to know for later on. I'm almost to the point of just paying more and buying as I need it and seeing the hay after it is already harvetsed and stored awhile, then from the farmers direct out of the field...400-500 bales...they aren't going to want to take back that much hay after its been stacked if it molds or refund that much income.

I know where you're coming from.... and some times the farmers will go on and bale a bit early to beat a rain storm coming right near harvest time, when the hay should of been baled a little later like the next day.

[Carol Nelson]

Ditto to what Lynn said...I've now taken to buying just 25 - 50 bales at a time...yes, the price is high but I've found I have very little waste. When I do get hay that is too wet, and I've only bought that much...this is what I do, I open every bale and let it expand. Then I run fans if the weather is dry. It does help. In this day of never ending drought...you can't afford to throw ANY away. :(
Of course with 500+ bales...that is impossible.

I also weigh every feeding. Yup...21 horses fed three times a day....

[motorgypsy]

Lori we have the same problem here. Here's what we're doing to try to prevent mildew. First we put black plastic and tarps on the ground well beyond where the hay will be stacked. I'd do it even if you have concrete floors. Then we're stacking landscape timbers on bricks to raise them even higher. We're then going to staple chicken wire on top of the landscape timbers to get good airflow under the bales. Then if I had the quantity you have I'd get several of those big fans and keep them blowing across the hay. Your barn roof is extremely high and since it's curved I can't imagine concensation would drip down because it should run down the sides. The only other thing you can do is run heaters since the relative humidty drops with increasing temp but that would be expensive. You can leave air space between the bales - when you feed - pull bales at intermittant locations to increase the airflow.

If it didn't heat up right after cutting it may be that the only problem you'll have the the exterior of the outside bales which you can pull off.

We are in a hollow with a pond and really high humidity and any more than 50 bales and we do get mildrew and our hay guys bales very loosely and really knows what he is doing. It's a major pain since we need more hay also and are afraid to get it because of our excessively high humidity.

What you might do is sell half your hay at a good price and then rebuy later. We're paying 3.25 per bale for very light, loosely packed coastal. You could put an ad in your NC market bulletin and see what people will pay???

Good luck and let us know what works!!!