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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

how dry is dry enough

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Tim

07-01-2004 14:05:10




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What is a good reliable way to tell when grass hay is ready to round bale. I have been told that it does not have to be quite as dry as it needs to be to square bale. It seems that the weather is only giving me very short windows to get my hay dry and if I can bale a little earlier than I normally do with the square baler it might help some, but I need to know how to tell for the round baler. Thanks Tim

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rhudson

07-02-2004 17:17:41




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 Re: how dry is dry enough in reply to Tim, 07-01-2004 14:05:10  
Well, i agree with what has already been said. i would think that round bale hay would have to be dryer than sq bale. in my op. the sq would get more air to bale dry than a round bale ever would. between 14 to 17% moisture is ok for fescue( i have the high $ moisture probe and meter i sometimes use). i do the twist test sometimes myself. if your hands feel any moisture when you take a sample from the windrow, its too wet. there is a very accurate test that can be done with a microwave and accurate scale. i don't think i'd count on baling any different with a round baler. in our humid conditions in virginia, its hard to start bailing before 11 or 12:00. somewhere i've read about big haying operations spraying some chemical (ammonia?) on the hay just as it enters the bailer. i think it killed the microbes more that it dried the hay.

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txblu

07-02-2004 06:58:29




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 Re: how dry is dry enough in reply to Tim, 07-01-2004 14:05:10  
In N.Tx we use the 3 turn test being grass or sudan. If you grab a hand full (1" dia) of grass with both hands in front of you, hands touching, and while squeezing the hay, rotate your hands (like a crank handle,offset). If the hay pops on the 3rd or sooner revolution, it's ready. This tests stems and leaves.

Mark



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kyhayman

07-01-2004 17:43:51




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 Re: how dry is dry enough in reply to Tim, 07-01-2004 14:05:10  
'it doesn't have to be quite as dry' depends on what your objective is. If it is to make good hay that wont mold it needs to be drier in a round bale than in a small square bale and drier still in a large (half a ton plus) square bale. The reason is bulk density per cubic inch is greater in a round bale than a square and a greater mass of hay to retain heat. Most people dont see it and store them outside (the barn doesnt burn) and think it is more tolerant of moisture. Then they build a hay shed, stack some rolls in it, and wonder why it burns down.

There are ways to deal with moisture but just making a roll isnt it. Options include propionic acid preservative added in the bale chamber (square or round), tedders (2 passes with a tedder does miracles), wrapped round bales in stretch film (makes round bale silage). I've used all of the above, used a lot of acid for a lot of years in squares and rounds, only quit b/c the market for wrapped hay is picking up here.

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