gotta store some round bales outside....(??'s)

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2012

One of the guys I buy hay from expanded his cattle so cut way back on hay (went to haylage)... Anyway, he left one field for me and will put up the hay on it, but can no longer store it for me. Looking at about 20 rolls which (if I use it first) will be used up by Sept/Oct.... Does it really make sense to try and cover it? If he lets me store it on the field, it will be open to all day wind/breeze and sun (when it shines) in a well drained area...

Next??? Butt the ends together or leave some air space?

Thanks, Dave

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2012

Slip on bale bonnets, and flat end to flat end is best. Next best would be flat end to flat end, and a long tarp.

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2012

(quoted from post at 03:20:11 05/31/12) Slip on bale bonnets, and flat end to flat end is best. Next best would be flat end to flat end, and a long tarp.

Is that the sleeves that leave the ends open or do they close the entire bale? They don't trap moisture do they? Firewood tarps are cheap enough as far as price and 5'x20'. Maybe I'll go that way unless the bail bonnets are really that good and I can order them online....

Thanks...

Kerry50 · May 31, 2012

I have found it best to leave space between each bale when leaving outside. When I have stacked them tight, end to end, they will mold some. Your hay needs to breathe as it will heat.

Lazy WP · May 31, 2012

It all depends on your climate. Here in north central Nebraska, we can store round bales for years, with minimal spoilage. They store better for us if we leave gaps between the bales, but land area usually doesn't allow that to happen.

Tx Jim · May 31, 2012

(quoted from post at 07:13:39 05/31/12) I have found it best to leave space between each bale when leaving outside. When I have stacked them tight, end to end, they will mold some. Your hay needs to breathe as it will heat.

I store my rd bales pushed end to end in rows with a gap of 2 ft between rows. I have very little spoilage mostly from ground contact and sell this hay to "picky horse owners". I also don't cover it with a tarp. I think hay baled at "correct moisture content" will not spoil if stacked tight(no breathing). Heating hay is caused from too high of moisture when it was baled. If breathing of hay is required how would anyone store hay in a barn?????????

casecollectorsc · May 31, 2012

We stack them two on end side by side with two on top regular way. Seems to have less spoilage than with them round side on the ground! Twine doesn,t rot as easy also!

IaGary · May 31, 2012

Dave I would try to get about a 8 or 10 by 20 tarp.

A 5 by 20 will just cover the crown and dump all the
water to the edge of the tarp and back into the bale
in one spot. 10 foot wide would get it around the
curve.

Get your self some 1/4" rods about a foot long to
poke through the eyelets into the bale to hold the
tarp on.

Bobl1958 · May 31, 2012

Round bales shed water great. If you can leave a small space between bales, it will store a long time. You will have the top 1 or 2 inches turn grey, but it will be nice and green just under. It's always nice to put them inside, but they will store just fine outside.

Tech 7 · May 31, 2012

I am in SW Ontario with a fair bit of humidity,rain and snow. For about the last 15 years I have had all my hay round baled and net wrapped. I usually leave the bales in the field for about 10 days then move them into the yard where they are set on truck tires (10:00x20) which are arranged in rows. The bales are placed end to end with no gaps. The tires work well in my opinion. There are usually two areas that spoil where the bale makes contact. I never have to fight a tarp on or off in the wind and darkness,the tires don't rot or have nails in them like skids do, and they are cheap. This is what has worked for me, Bob

Texasmark1 · May 31, 2012

Here in N. TX, rolls are the main line hay both in netwrap and
twine wrapped. They are stored out of doors butted end to end,
preferably on a hill to reduce rutting on longer rows especially
late in the season when fields are wet, and reducing loss from
ground contact. If more than one row, ample room between
rows for a little sunlight and air circulation.

A few pile it up 2 or more high but when you do that the water
off the upper bales and lack of ventilation causes the contact
area to rot prematurely and is not a good idea.

Greyhorse · May 31, 2012

(quoted from post at 16:31:26 05/31/12) Here in N. TX, rolls are the main line hay both in netwrap and
twine wrapped. They are stored out of doors butted end to end,
preferably on a hill to reduce rutting on longer rows especially
late in the season when fields are wet, and reducing loss from
ground contact. If more than one row, ample room between
rows for a little sunlight and air circulation.

A few pile it up 2 or more high but when you do that the water
off the upper bales and lack of ventilation causes the contact
area to rot prematurely and is not a good idea.

To add to what he said, which is good info, we do just that and also try to have the rows running north and south so they all get sun to dry out after a rain.

INCase · May 31, 2012

Penn State Ag Engineering did a study on cost of storage versus hay value losses.

It found that any storage weather it is a tarp or building that the hay loss reduction paid for the storage. Of course the more elaborate storage the longer the pay off but any storage helps.

I would think, if you have a lot of moisture you would want air between the bales to help them not to rot.

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2012

I use the slip ons, but there is always a little moisture, in the bottom 3 inches of the ground contact spot. These are the bags, that have no top or bottom, just cover the round part of the bale. They cost $117.50/50 bag roll, with shipping, here. Don't know if they are available in Europe, You might try Greece, they are in the bag, ain't they?

Jerry/MT · May 31, 2012

Net wrapped or twine tied?

I store net wrapped on the ground, butted together at the open ends with 3-4 feet between rows.
I store twine wrapped one bale vertical and the other on top on it"s side. The top bale sheds water off the sides and protects the bottom bale except the part that"s on the ground. I tried this with net wrapped bales and the water doesn"t shed off the sides. It runs on around the net wrap and puts two wet spots though the vertical bale. That"s why I store them on the ground.

Ti tried tarping one year and the winds tore the $400 worth of tarps to rags within a month. It was a waste of money. I suppose you can by the really expensive ($1500) hay tarps but keeping them on in windy conditionsis still tough.

Anyway that"s how I do it.

samn40 · May 31, 2012

http://youtu.be/tvL-TKuMiUE
Might be a bit elaborate but you could buy a roll of plastic set them
on their ends and just walk round them until they have one wrap
each then upend them again. Mrs and my self just done 30
yesterday, only took about 3/4 hr.
Sam

gotta store some round bales outside....(??'s)

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