Eastern Half of Kansas | justbad7 - 12/16/2024 10:09
I thought (don't know, this is our first year doing alfalfa and large squares) that 14-15% would be dry enough, actually by about 3-5% to not have any issues.
This is a very bad assumption, you’re saying 18-19% in a big square bale would be safe hay. 13-14% alfalfa hay in big square bale should be safe. I would guess you had 15% stem moisture hay, I don’t think rain in outside stacks are the issue but I won’t rule it out. Learn the difference between dew moisture and stem moisture. Dew moisture you can get away with a lot, all bale forms, stem moisture you can get away with very little in big squares. We made alfalfa for 20 years in eastern Kansas where we have humidity like corn belt. Currently don’t have any alfalfa but learned a ton along the way. Large square baling is different animal trying to bale dry hay. We custom baled, alfalfa and brome, it was very difficult to emphasize to people it’s gotta be dry coming from doing small squares and rounds. |
Hay burning
