More Questions on Balewagons/Barn Floors

[lfc]

I've been scanning the forums lately looking for advice on NH balewagons and the best barn designs for them. I plan on going back into haying part time, and finding help to stack the wagon behind the baler and then unload is tough around here. My old barn is in rough shape and was set up for loose hay originally, so I really need to consider a new pole barn designed around the bale wagon.
I'm leaning towards a 1033 or 1037 3-wide model, so a 48' wide barn should do. My big question is what to use for the floor. From what I've read, concrete isn't much better than dirt. A layer of loose hay doesn't seem to be rated highly either. Pallets seem to be the best, but how do you do that with a balewagon? I read one comment about loading pallets on the rolling rack and building the load on top of them, but I'm not sure how that really works out.
A layer of plastic down over the dirt would keep mositure from coming up from the ground, so would a good layer of crushed stone over the plastic allow for enough circulation for the mositure coming out of the hay? I appreciate any advice!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Put a heavy plastic down first then 6" of crushed stone and if you want you can spread a thin layer of straw over the stone. Just make sure you barn is tall enough for the bale wagon to unload in. I think a 18' height to the rafter would be plenty. Also, build you barn up so the water runs away and have your floor higher then the outside of the barn also. One other important thing is to make sure there is plenty of ventilation. Run a full ridge vent and as large a gable vents as you can. The cooler the hay is the higher the quality. If it builds up too much heat because of poor ventilation your hay will suffer. Also, don't stack your stacks tight together. This will allow air to circulate around each stack and help the hay cure without building up too much heat.