Stacking Hay bales

[slowzuki]

We tried one year on edge out of the last 20. What a pain, never again. Flat stacked all the way from ground to 50 ft here. I shudder thinking of that year of walking on edge stacked and trying to pull them out to sell.

 

[farmeratheart]

We tried one year on edge out of the last 20. What a pain, never again. Flat stacked all the way from ground to 50 ft here. I shudder thinking of that year of walking on edge stacked and trying to pull them out to sell.

I'm with you Slowzuki ... We always started the mowin' away with a layer or two stacked on edge for the reason mentioned in my earlier post, but I hated walking across those layers to make the 'flat' layer that started the next 40 or 50 feet of hay!

Frank

 

[rtimgray]

We always start with a layer stacked on edge, mostly just to keep strings from rotting. After that, we go flat.

 

[atgreene]

We always stack flat even when stacked on pallets. Stacked flat they lock together better when stacking in a pattern and allows you to stack higher.

Same way in the field on the trailer. The only place we edge stack is in the back of the pick-up to fill up the bed then start flat above the rail.

Hauled this load last week, no rope. Approx 170? on the trailer.

 

[Duffster]

We always start with a layer stacked on edge, mostly just to keep strings from rotting. After that, we go flat.

Same here.

What about using plastic for a vapor barrier then pallets?

When we had to stack fancy hay on ground we just used straw or junk hay on the first layer and used it for bedding later.

 

[Barry Bowen]

On a dirt floor, plastic and two layers pallets. Stack on edge the whole thing so moisture will have the possibility to travel up and out.

After stacking both way, strings on top and strings on the side. I will only stack on edge. It has always given me the best results.

 

[Lone Wolf]

okay guys, got the plastic down under the pallets but next question would be: grass is tall enough to cut due to all this rain weather in NW florida the past 2-3 months. I am getting nervous now, when do you take a chance and cut. I saw someone else yesterday cut but they can rake and bale during the day as to me I work. The forecast is 20 today 30 Thur and 40 Fri-Mon. I am thinking I need 3-4 days to hay 7 acres (just the wife and I) b/c I can only tedder after work hours 6 pm for the thick stuff. But should I take the chance on 40% or just wait down the road for absolute good weather? Some areas of the grass is just below knee deep while other areas is less than that. Kind of new at this so I may be jumping the gun as I learn. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[5030]

Nice to have an old barn with a mow. I rent that.

 

[foreman Etexas]

okay guys, got the plastic down under the pallets but next question would be: grass is tall enough to cut due to all this rain weather in NW florida the past 2-3 months. I am getting nervous now, when do you take a chance and cut. I saw someone else yesterday cut but they can rake and bale during the day as to me I work. The forecast is 20 today 30 Thur and 40 Fri-Mon. I am thinking I need 3-4 days to hay 7 acres (just the wife and I) b/c I can only tedder after work hours 6 pm for the thick stuff. But should I take the chance on 40% or just wait down the road for absolute good weather? Some areas of the grass is just below knee deep while other areas is less than that. Kind of new at this so I may be jumping the gun as I learn. Thanks for any feedback.

Leave it!! Rain = more growth........If you dont have to cut ,im just saying let it sit alittle longer and get more yield out of it!!!

 

[Lone Wolf]

Foreman,

Thanks, just didn't know when is the lastest time to leave it alone. Not sure if you leave it, is there a point the grass startes to get too thick or useless. I wish I could explain what I am trying to say on paper here. or can it grow until I get to it no matter how tall it gets? Make sense?