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    • « Understanding More About Lucerne | Home | What’s in a bale of hay? »

    Hay Storage - Best Practices

    By admin | May 22, 2008

    Article reproduced from Hay There Volume 1 Issue 3 Spring 2005

    Like any dry food, hay should be kept in a cool, dry, dark place. The most important of these conditions by far is dry and this should be achieved at the expense of the other two conditions if necessary.  Whilst rain is an obvious way that hay can get wet, moisture from the air and condensation are more insidious forms and generally cause the biggest problems.  The following are a list of do’s and don’ts with regard to hay storage.

    Don’t let hay sit directly on the ground or even concrete as moisture is absorbed through the ground;

    Do put hay on wooden planks or pallets to allow air circulation underneath;

    Don’t let hay contact metal shed walls as condensation collects on these surfaces;

    Do allow air to circulate around all sides of your hay stack or if it must touch a surface, make it a timber one;

    Don’t cover hay with a plastic tarp as any moisture in the hay is trapped and concentrated encouraging mould formation;

    Do cover hay with a woollen blanket or flannelette sheet as this provides some protection from moisture whilst  still allowing the hay to breathe;

    Don’t keep hay in a small, confined tin shed as this can get very hot and doesn’t allow moisture to escape;

    Do keep hay in as large and as airy a shed as possible;

    Don’t leave hay exposed to the south-east weather as this is the direction most rain comes from in south-eastern Queensland (or west for storms).  If a side is to be left open then the north-facing side is the best;

    Don’t try to store hay for too long (more than a month in a humid/coastal environment); and

    Do turn over your hay regularly, using your oldest bales first.

    Of course very few of us can get everything right, but if we  are pointing is the right direction, we have a better chance of getting there.

    Topics: Hay |

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