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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

covering hay with tarps

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Willy P

09-18-2007 20:20:21




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I have been thinking about getting some hay tarps and covering square bales under it. Does anybody do that? It is very humid here in east Texas and we usually get good rains If stacking bales with a bale wagon will that be enough pyramid on top not to catch rain water? I always thought that the tarps will sweat under them and spoil the hay in our humidity or does the tarp need to be above the bales so air can circulate and if so how can this be done? Any advice or do's and don'ts will be appreciated.

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John S-B

09-19-2007 19:24:11




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
I'm doing that now because one of the people I bale for haven't built their barn yet on their new property. They are looking at some of the portable buildings in the Northern Tool catalog. Some of the ones in there are nice, theres one that's 20x40x20 for around $3,800, seems like a good deal compared to tarps. Tarps are a royal pain.



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Gerald J.

09-19-2007 16:23:55




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
Didn't work for me in central Iowa, not a warm as east Texas, nor quite as humid but plenty humid. I don't see others trying it unless many miles north, like mid Minnesota. Its too wet here, the hay breaths, the moisture condenses on the tarp and drips back to rot the hay.

Gerald J.



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Dave H (MI)

09-19-2007 12:04:10




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
Talking about poor man's ahy barn, we have an 18 foot wagon and I have rigged PVC into a conestoga wagon type frame over the rack. We put an old tarp on first to take the abuse and then cover it with a good tarp. USUALLY we can hold 50 bales at a time under this but works best in cold weather. Don't let tarp lay on hay...tarp will wear and hay will mold.



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Elmer's Grassman

09-19-2007 11:21:44




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
Here is the address cowcoinc.com



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Elmer's Grassman

09-19-2007 05:41:16




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
There is a company that makes a tarp for this. It has heary tabs to secure it. It's a two layer system that will "breath" to get rid of moisture. I'll look through my files for name. Dairy guys here are using.



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johns48jdb

09-19-2007 02:23:46




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
not a good idea at all. hay under a tarp will sweat and ruin unless its round bales. i never had much luck keeping the tarp on something like that any way. it will tear and blow off in a windy storm more than anything else as far as stacking it outside. got a friend who needs a few bales to feed out of in exchange for your stacking hat in his shed?



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02

09-19-2007 00:58:06




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
I tried storing 400 small squares outside here on the "wet" coast of B.C.. I stood 8' plywood up all the way around - - piled loose hay on top to provide slope and tarped it with a new blue tarp. As I was walking by 3 mo. later I smelled spoiled hay - - yep, what happened was the the hay had worn many small holes in the tarp in the wind and I lost it all.



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W-400 Chris

09-18-2007 20:48:58




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to Willy P, 09-18-2007 20:20:21  
I live in Northern British Columbia and a tarp over the bales works fine here but we don't have the humidity like you have there, but we still keep them indoors under a roof and that is probably your best bet with the moist air you have, them the air can always be circuating around the hay.



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randallinMo

09-19-2007 08:37:49




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 Re: covering hay with tarps in reply to W-400 Chris, 09-18-2007 20:48:58  
I have successfully tarped small square bales in the past. I use a very heavy hay tarp and cover about 1000 bales in each stak. I place the hay on wooden pallets to get it off the ground, placing the stak in a well drained area. I build a pyramid on the top of the stak to allow proper drainage and to allow air flow that helps with the humidity. Daily feeding from these piles of hay is a nuisance because of the tarp. The pile gets smaller but the tarp stays the same size and you have to roll up the excess and place it somewhere. Proper tie down of the tarp is essential. Don't let the tarp touch the ground! The mice love to eat holes in it. Don't try to cover wire tied bales as the wire twists will wear holes in the tarp. Regular twine tied bales work good. It is a "poor man's hay barn", but it can be done even in areas with high humidity. If you start out with dry hay to begin with, you won't have many problems.

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