Agriview:
Make hay while the sun shines
by Rick Hirsch

"Make hay while the sun shines". This is an appropriate phrase when looking at hay production up until now during the 2007 growing season. The fairly constant rains have made harvesting a little difficult at times. Although grasshoppers have consumed more than their fair share, there has been and will continue to be a lot of forage harvested in Henderson County.

Hay quality is critically important, especially for animals having high nutritional requirements, and the ultimate test of hay quality is animal performance. Hay quality is considered satisfactory when animals consuming it perform as desired. For anyone who is producing, feeding, buying or selling hay, forage quality should be a major consideration.

Factors which affect hay quality include: growing conditions, fertility, species, varieties, pests, pressure of weeds, harvesting, curing, handling and storage. However, the stage of maturity when harvested is the most important factor and the one where management can have the greatest impact.

Hay storage losses vary greatly depending upon several factors, but storage technique is of utmost importance. Losses of dry hay stored inside a barn are usually of little concern. However, even for barn-stored hay, losses rise sharply as moisture levels increase above 20% and losses from round bales stored outside under adverse conditions can be much larger. During storage, hay can be subject to dry matter losses as well as losses of forage quality.

If hay is to be stored outside, it is desirable to locate the storage site close to the feeding area because bales become more difficult to handle as they weather. It is easier to move them a greater distance when they are new and tightly wrapped.

Well-drained upland storage sites are best. Bottom areas should generally be avoided as they tend to be heavier soils. Also, many bottom areas are prone to flooding, which is detrimental to hay and may limit vehicle access during rainy periods. Hay/soil contact should be avoided if at all possible, but if hay must touch the soil, a sandy well-drained area is greatly preferable to a heavy soil, and/or poorly drained site.

Once the storage site has been located, attention should be given to bale placement and orientation. Except when multiple-bale covers are used, large round bales should be stored in rows with sides not touching so as to avoid creating a moisture-holding area between sides. However, the flat ends of bales should be firmly butted against one another. This conserves space and may help protect the bottoms of bales (other than the one on the upper side of the slope) from water flowing down the slope. Properly done, this protects the ends almost as well as if they were part of one continuous bale.

If possible, rows should run north and south so as to allow maximum exposure of the rounded sides to the sun. This increases drying of the rounded surface of bales during the day. At least 3 feet should be left between bale rows to ensure sunlight penetration and allow good air circulation.

If direct hay/soil contact cannot be avoided, taking steps to minimize the amount of water reaching the bales, and the length of time they stay wet, will at least help. A gently sloping site (preferably with a southern exposure to maximize solar drying) will allow water to quickly drain away from the hay. Bales should be oriented up and down the slope so that they will not create a dam for surface water and placed near the tip of the slope to minimize the amount of water flowing around the hay.

Hay baled at too high a moisture level will heat. In addition to causing reduced digestibility of protein and hemicellulose, the hay may catch on fire. Because of the possibility of fire, fresh green hay should never be stored tightly against older, dry hay.

Hay temperature can be monitored by making a probe out of a 10-foot piece of 2- inch diameter pipe on which one end has been sealed with a sharpened plug. The pipe can then be driven into a stack or large bale of hay followed by lowering a thermometer into the pipe. Readings should be taken at several locations and depths, leaving the thermometer at each location for 10 to 15 minutes. When hay temperatures remain below 120 degrees F, it is considered safe; between 120 to 140 degrees F is considered a caution zone, and the hay should be closely watched. If the temperature goes above 160 degrees F, a fire is likely.

Hay that is heating to an unacceptable, dangerous level should be moved to a spot where fire will not destroy anything except the hay. The danger of fire will generally subside within two to three weeks.

IMPORTANT DATES:

July 11 - 15, Athens Summer Jubilee, Henderson County Fair Park Complex.