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Junk Hay

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barrybro

Member
My wife and I just started doing a pumpkin patch which included a hay maze. The hay has been rained on several times. Is there any animal that may eat it or are there any other practical uses (including putting in the soil). I have about 75 bales left that I need to do something with. Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
I'd leave 'em lay til spring and let 'em decay as much as they will,then just haul 'em out in the manure spreader.
 
I had a field that wasnt to productive in one spot.I unrolled and fed hay there for 3 or 4 years or so.When I plowed the field to put beans in the field the hay had turned to 4 inches of very fertile black dirt.Soybeans in this area outgrew the rest of the field.Use it to build your soil if possible.
 
What exactly do you do. Do you have to shred the bales now or let them sit over the winter and rototill into the soil???

I am one year into my farming so I am a novice at everything. I really appreciate the knowledge on these forums.

Thank you.
 
You can pile them up, cut the twine off first and let them lay till spring then use in your garden. Or you can spread it out now where you plan to have your garden then till it in, in the spring either way works and either way has its good and bad points. I prefer to pile it up and then use it in the spring because it will heat up and kill off more of the grass and weed seeds
Hobby farm
 
Well the general trend with wheat straw/hay is not to plow it back in now. Used to be done all the time to add organic matter to the soil. Most soils do not need that much organic matter any more.

What they found from testing is that it takes more nitrogen from the soil to break down the straw to make organic matter. The cost of replacing nitrogen was higher than any benefit from increased organic matter.

This is why more people are burning wheat stubble now.

Soil test your garden to see what you have for organic matter and nitrogen. You may have to add nitro this fall just to get everything decomposing. Then add more in the spring to replace it. Kinda depends on how much organic matter you have and need and how much you want to spend on fertilizer. With a small garden then another bag or three of fert won't break the bank but buying fertilizer for a thousand acres is another story.
 
I have a total of 60 acres. Currently 35 is rented to a corn farmer. I have 6 acres in hay and my pumpkin patch is 4 acres. The rest is pasture and wooded land. My soil is sandy loam leaning toward the sandy side. My organic matter is in the 2% range. I am leaning toward the idea of tilling it in for the organic matter. Pumpkins are not big nitrogen eaters.
 
When I have old hay I run it through my Papec enslidge cutter, blow it into my manure spreader and spread it on a field somewhere. Getting to use my toys has a lot to do with the decision.
 
I agree with Old - pile it and cut the twine. If it's sisal twine I'd even leave that in the pile. it'll all break down really well over the winter. Flip it occasionally if you can. Spread it in the spring.
Jay
 
Start a compost pile, find a way to turn it and mix it. Should compost really nice in about 6 months (do a bit of research there's all kinds of ways to make them efficient). Sell compost on the side next spring/summer to local gardeners/landscapers.
 
I always just spread it on my garden as much as possible and plow it about two weeks before planting time.also you could stack it in some washouts if you have any on your place.
 
If you spread it on your garden remember to do it early .When it first starts rotting in the soil it WILL tie up nitrogen but after a couple of weeks or so it will start releasing it back as it gets to rotting good.If its real dry you may have to add some "n" and water it well to start it composting.
 
I toss em in ditches that are getting washed out as an erosion barrier....helps the ditch silt in and slows the water down....
 
One other thing you can do with that hay if you still have it is to Plant your garden right in those bales! just about everything that doesn't get real tall can be grown in them.tomatoes do very well in hay bales just put a little fertilizer on them and water it in,pull bale apart slightly and insert your plant.you can do a search on net for square bale gardening for a lot of info.
 
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