How do you dry hay?
Another method Kaatz suggests for making hay dry faster is to use a tedder. A tedder, which works especially well with grasses, will fluff the windrow or swath and allow air to flow through it more easily. The additional air dries the hay faster, but Kaatz advises not to use a tedder on partially dried alfalfa.
How long does it take for hay to dry?
It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay. This can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow just before or right after a rain, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.
Is hay dried up grass?
Hay, in agriculture, dried grasses and other foliage used as animal feed. Usually the material is cut in the field while still green and then either dried in the field or mechanically dried by forced hot air. Typical hay crops are timothy, alfalfa, and clover.
Why does hay have to be dried?
This energy from the sun is required to evaporate and move moisture out of the plant. The drying of hay requires the removal of about three tons of moisture for every ton of hay produced. This requires 7 billion joules of energy, which is the equivalent of 70 gallons of fuel oil.
Does salt help dry hay?
[answer]The basic answer is yes, salt (sodium chloride) can be effective in inhibiting growth of mold organisms in hay.
Does salting hay work?
[answer]The basic answer is yes, salt (sodium chloride) can be effective in inhibiting growth of mold organisms in hay. In earlier days, the practice was not uncommon for small rectangular bales.
Why do you salt hay bales?
Story of salting hay The bacterial action of wet hay can produce enough heat to really make a fire. This spontaneous inflammation of wet hay has burned down many barns. In order to save the barn, people dropped an amount of rock salt on each layer of bales while stacking.
Can you make hay by hand?
The proper method cutting hay by hand: stand with your legs apart and knees slightly bent. Three ropes tied around the width and a fourth wrapped lengthwise hold together each 70- to 90-pound bate of sun-dried hay. Swing your scythe and torso from right to left, concentrating on a smooth, whole-body pivot.
It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay, which can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow a day before or immeditately after it rains, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.
Why do people put salt on hay?
The salt absorbs the moisture, and helps so the hay doesn’t heat up if put away with too much moisture.
Is first or second cut hay better?
First cut hay is grass heavy and doesn’t have a lot of legumes, such as alfalfa or cover. Second cut hay has a finer texture and usually, a greener color and heavier leaves. It is more dense, the leaves are more tender and healthier, especially in protein.
What happens if hay gets rained on?
If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth – putting a producer at risk of barn fire.
How do you keep hay from molding?
Stack the bottom layer of bales on their sides, with the strings facing sideways instead of up. The uneven surface allows better air circulation and helps prevent mold from growing. Stack the second layer with the strings facing up, all pointing in the same direction.
Why is my Hay not dry enough to eat?
They feed on available carbohydrates on the surface of the forage plants and inside the stems and leaves. The feeding results in the loss of some dry matter (DM), reduces the quality of the hay, and also generates heat. The temperature of these hay bales, stacks, and barns can get very hot.
What’s the best way to dry out Hay?
To maximize drying speed, consider turning or stirring the windrow so the bottom layer can then be exposed to sun. We hesitate to disturb windrows because of leaf loss, but raking above 40 percent moisture really minimizes loss.
What makes hay dry faster in the windrow?
There are two aspects of humidity to consider: relative humidity as reported by the weatherman and humidity in the windrow. Simply put, the lower the relative humidity, the faster and more completely hay will dry.
When is the best time to make hay?
Hay is made by cutting high quality grass or other forages, letting it dry in the sun, then baling the dried forage for transportation and storage. Hay is made throughout the growing season of the forage plants in your area. Most people make hay to feed later in the year when the grasses and other forages are not growing well.
What is dry hay called?
Haylage is typically between 50 and 70% dry matter. There seems to be an increasing trend to produce drier haylage which is more accurately termed ‘wrapped hay’ as the dry matter is closer to that of hay.
Why does baleage have an advantage over dry hay?
Advantages over dry hay Baleage can create high-quality forage if done properly. Baleage typically has less loss during storage than dry hay, fewer weather delays at harvest and a faster turnaround from when the forage is down in both regrowth and time on the ground. The equipment changes are not significant but need to be considered.
Does hay dry faster in swath than windrow?
Do not cut hay into a tight windrow. A wider swath will dry faster, because more drying area of the hay is exposed to sun and wind. Solar radiation cannot penetrate very deep into the swath. University of Wisconsin research indicates that a 12 foot haybine laid into a 9 foot swath will reduce drying time by 35% versus a 6 foot swath.
How is hay dried?
Hay, in agriculture, dried grasses and other foliage used as animal feed. Usually the material is cut in the field while still green and then either dried in the field or mechanically dried by forced hot air.
