Hot and wet!

[Southernspeed]

I baled mixed pasture grass on Wednesday. It was green but nice and crispy, AgraTronix windrow tester said 17% but I did notice there were a degree of thicker, not so crisp stems in there. Today (Saturday) my AgraTronix temp/moisture probe is reading 98-102 degrees at the core and moisture levels in the 40-45% region (although they say accuracy is off above 30%.)
Am I wasting my time hoping this will cool down and dry out without molding?
If so, what's my best option? Try to roll them out when I have a few dry days and re-bale? Not sure how well my baler will pick up a rolled out bale!
Any other suggestions?
Also, if I leave it and monitor temps, how long before it goes moldy?

 

[Hay Dude]

I baled mixed pasture grass on Wednesday. It was green but nice and crispy, AgraTronix windrow tester said 17% but I did notice there were a degree of thicker, not so crisp stems in there. Today (Saturday) my AgraTronix temp/moisture probe is reading 98-102 degrees at the core and moisture levels in the 40-45% region (although they say accuracy is off above 30%.)

That’s not abnormal. Your bales are going through sweat period.

Am I wasting my time hoping this will cool down and dry out without molding?

100 degrees is by no means a “hot” bale. If you baled at 17%, you will probably be ok, but I wouldn’t want to be much higher than that while baling if you want to store bales inside. My guess is you might have a little dust, but nothing some hungry cows won’t devour.

If so, what's my best option? Try to roll them out when I have a few dry days and re-bale? Not sure how well my baler will pick up a rolled out bale!
Any other suggestions?

Just let them sit and keep monitoring temps if you are worried or they are stacked inside. If they get over 150, you probably have a problem.

Also, if I leave it and monitor temps, how long before it goes moldy?

Probably 2+ weeks.

 

[LHF2019]

Did you do the twist method before baling. Sounds like you did rounds, 17% might be pushing it for rounds. I would have no problem baling that in sm. sq. I never check hay after the fact. It will make you 2nd guess yourself. Moisture and heat will always rise after baling no matter how dry. It is what hay does.

 

[Southernspeed]

Thanks guys, gives me hope! Yes I did do the 'twist test'. Nearly everything I tested broke after one or two twists, it was just some of the thicker stems that had that 'chewy' feel to them that took a lot more to break, but they were the exception rather than the rule.

 

[LHF2019]

Thanks guys, gives me hope! Yes I did do the 'twist test'. Nearly everything I tested broke after one or two twists, it was just some of the thicker stems that had that 'chewy' feel to them that took a lot more to break, but they were the exception rather than the rule.

You should always have have a few that don’t break or even be green yet. If not your already to dry. Since you use the windrow tester. You should also test the bale immediately after dropping it. Compare readings. Between my baler tester and hand held there is approximately 5% moisture difference with the handheld being higher. That’s is testing the bale in the chamber where it reads it. When in the cab and see 8% we add 5 points to it. Never used a windrow tester. Would be interesting what you find comparing the two methods

 

[Lineman North Florida]

When my baler monitor reads 14% I don't bale unless I know rain is coming, because it will be in the mid 20's down here in this humid environment the next day and if you have native crabgrass in the mix with it being so stemmy every other grass type in the field can be dry and the crabgrass will make your bales test hot without an extra day or two of drying.