Baling green hay

[brin]

I had a neighbor that baled some hay that was still a little green - square bales - and some of the bales did catch fire. Luckily he saw it in time and was able to put it out in his barn and then he had to clear the bales out of the barn and we could see them smoking ..the ones that had not caught fire were smoking and we opened some of the bales up and you would not believe how hot they were inside. Had he not been home and in the barn when the first bale ignited he would have lost it all..

 

[BruceWard]

Green hay heats up and catches on fire as it dries. I have seen neighbors do it twice. One burned 30 acres and all his hay.

 

[Western]

Looks like you will be using a rake, like they said, Let it dry a day then rake it over.

It will depend on the size (depth) of your rows on how long you'll have to let it dry. You may try and get your hands on a moisture tester, darn handy tool.

What is he hay intended for ? cattle? As long as it isn't moldy and fertilized, it should be ok if you dry it. If it gets to wet forget it for horse in my opinion. After it's dry then you get to decide if iyts worth the cost of baling and storage ect tra.

 

[DonWorrell]

Looks like you will be using a rake, like they said, Let it dry a day then rake it over.

It will depend on the size (depth) of your rows on how long you'll have to let it dry. You may try and get your hands on a moisture tester, darn handy tool.

What is he hay intended for ? cattle? As long as it isn't moldy and fertilized, it should be ok if you dry it. If it gets to wet forget it for horse in my opinion. After it's dry then you get to decide if iyts worth the cost of baling and storage ect tra.

Cows will eat anything with some molases on it but Hprses are very picky.

Don

 

[jwcinpk]

If you choose to let it get a shower my advice would be not to fluff it again. Try to let it dry as naturally as possible. Holds its color better that way.

 

[Kfbeal]

Well if you have always done this and your dad has always done this then why are you asking for advice?

I said a little on the green side, not really green. And second opinions and information is what this forum is intended for isn't it?

We baled late today, and it was pretty much dry. It was raked early and a breeze on it all day pretty much dried it out. The chances for rain are now 80% and estimated 4-5 inches of it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I said a little on the green side, not really green. And second opinions and information is what this forum is intended for isn't it?

We baled late today, and it was pretty much dry. It was raked early and a breeze on it all day pretty much dried it out. The chances for rain are now 80% and estimated 4-5 inches of it.

Yes, second opinions are what this forum is about as well as learning. But it seemed like you didn't like what any of us said and were mainly looking for someone to tell you what you wanted to hear.

I am glad everything worked out for you.

 

[powerpace]

Let it rain on it, then turn it. By "green" do you mean uncured? A good green color for hay is a sign of quality along with the correct moisture as it's baled. Hay that has been baled and stored can still cause problems if allowed to absorb moisture from the ground "mold" or water from overhead leaks causing mold and then heat. Round bales stored outside uncovered will cause less problems but have loss of quality in exposed surface faces. Have had some experience in small bale barn fires. Some total loss, some just discovered as heating progressed. In Eastern Oregon and in some parts of the Western United States big stacks 200ft., long by 30ft., wide and as high as they can loose/stack it are still used although not as much as 20 to 30 years ago. Hot spot fires didn't happen often.

 

[Kfbeal]

I guess my statement shoulda been freshly cut. There was plenty of dust so I know it was pretty dry. I wasn't sure how it would dry and knew it wouldn't be 100%, which no hay is 100% dry unless you let it sit for weeks and turning it I suppose. My main concern was if it didn't quite dry out.

We rolled it and it sit for a while and everything looked good. Oddly enough the sun was out and wind blowing so it dried pretty good.

I would have just let it sit until they started throwing out 5-6 inches of rain overnight. At first it was supposed to be Friday evening, but the weather folks upped it due to mother nature and the Gulf Coast. It's rumbling pretty good here now, so I'm hoping it was a wise choice. Thanks for the replies.