Published: June 29, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI
Farmers are reminded to make sure their hay is adequately
dry before putting it into the barn for storage, as wet hay increases the risk
of a fire. Purdue Extension forage specialist Keith Johnson says the moisture
content of hay for storage should be no higher than 20 percent. That’s because
heat-tolerant microorganisms can develop in hay bales and raise their
temperature. If it gets higher than 150 degrees, farmers should take apart the
bales or stacks and let air circulate. Johnson says fire becomes very likely if
the temperature hits 200 degrees. He adds this year’s wet conditions make the
risk of fire even greater.
Farmers can speed up drying by laying cut forage in a wide
swath with a mower-conditioner. It’s more exposed to sunlight and dries faster,
and the conditioner crimps the stems of newly cut wheat and lets moisture
evaporate more quickly. Johnson says they can also let the cut forage wilt to
50 percent moisture content and allow it to ferment to silage. This is done
using an individual bale wrapper or an inline tuber that exudes air by wrapping
the bales in white plastic.
Johnson urges growers to monitor the temperature of their
stored hay and notify their local fire department of any potentially dangerous
heat buildup.
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