Hay storage ,self combustion

Latest Articles

Hay storage ,self combustion

Downsizer Forum Index -> Land Management

Author

Message

Nature'sgrafter

Joined: 22 Feb 2012
Posts: 527
Location: Sanday , Orkney

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 13 1:25 pm Post subject: Hay storage ,self combustion

This is my first year when I have saved a field for hay to grow as feed for the sheep, I have had it cut and turned 3 times so far and it is drying lovely Almost completely golden in colour and if the weather holds will be bailed soon.
So my question stacking in the barn? I had intended to move it as soon as bailed and store it as dry as possible on pallets. I was thinking of stacking it one row strings sideways the next strings up and with the occasional tunnel through to let it breath and the heat to escape. The man who is doing it for me said I should expect 120-150 small square bails.

Does this sound right I only ask as a lady I know keeps telling me to leave it in the field to dry even more or it will self combust

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 13 2:21 pm Post subject:
As a copper in the 80's working in a rural area, I went to a number of farm fires caused by hay over heating. The fires weren't caused by the way the hay was stacked but by the hay being bailed and stored when it was still green.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 13 4:30 pm Post subject:

Bodger wrote:

As a copper in the 80's working in a rural area, I went to a number of farm fires caused by hay over heating. The fires weren't caused by the way the hay was stacked but by the hay being bailed and stored when it was still green.

Precisely.
Yours sounds to dry to heat.
My Dad always tried to bale when there was a little green left in the crop.
It would heat a little but we never had a fire.
If you leave it dry to long you loose a lot of the nutrition & end up with roughage.
Fills them up but wont fatten.
Better to err on the side of caution though as a beginner.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 13 5:32 pm Post subject:
What bodger said. If you hay is nice a dry you can stack as you would straw.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 13 8:09 pm Post subject:

Tav`s Dad is spot on,
Green hay is not the problem of overheating,its the moisture content,
Dry greenish is the best hay you will get.

I would get your`s baled straight away,or you will be stacking tinder dry stalks,with no feed value at all.

A tip,most likely Tav`s Dad did the same,you mentioned you had shaken the hay 3 times,before each shaking,grab a handful,and twist it really tight with both hands,you will notice the difference each time, less moisture,try next time.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Land Management	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts