Anyone who bales dry hay knows the struggle of racing against the rain. Weather during harvest can pose the biggest challenge to ensuring high-quality hay. Have you considered using a hay preservative?
The ideal moisture levels for hay storage depends on the size bale: small squares should be stored at about 18%-20% moisture, large squares at 12%-16%, and round bales should be around 15%-18%*. Keeping moisture within these ranges is crucial to prevent heating and molding. Hay preservatives can be beneficial when moisture levels exceed these percentages, though their effectiveness diminishes significantly beyond 30%.
Mold thrives in warm, moist conditions, which are often present with excessive moisture content. Mold not only degrades the overall quality of the hay but can also significantly reduce its nutritional value. Applying hay preservatives when baling creates a protective barrier against moisture, minimizing mold growth and preserving the nutritional value of the hay.
It’s important to note that hay preservatives differ from desiccants, which are drying agents applied during cutting to accelerate drying rates. Farmers in South Dakota report that using hay preservatives has allowed them to bale hay at moisture levels up to 30% without spoilage, extending their baling windows and preserving hay quality.
EZ Applicators by L&M Ag are easy to install onto your baler for simple hay preserver application.
Applicators
Hay preservatives can be applied using applicators mounted above the pickup attachment for round balers or directly into the bale chamber for square balers. Ackerman’s sells EZ Applicators from L&M Ag that are easily mounted on your baler for hassle-free application. Contact us to schedule your applicator installation this fall so you don’t need to go another season with the rain in control!
Recommended Preserver
Ackerman’s recommends a granulated preservative called Hy-Brix Preserver Pak from Natural Way Minerals. This preserver is applied to forages at harvest to promote faster fermentation to maintain higher nutrient quality. It works great for dry hay bales up to 20% moisture. This product has no harmful chemicals and contains beneficial trace minerals to enhance feed quality.
Contact an Ackerman’s representative today to explore our baler/applicator combos or to outfit your current baler for hay preservative application. Don’t let rain compromise your hay quality again—buying an applicator for your baler may be a purchase you can’t afford not to make.
*Source: Hay Moisture Levels | Buckeye Hills Agriculture and Natural Resources (osu.edu)