Advice on wet hay

[B&L Equine Services]

I'm unsure for probably first time in my 20 year of hay making. Iv lost grass before due to rain but this weekend rain and what's in store next week looks like won't get the chance to save it. Thing is I supply horse market as my main bit of business and also have customers hay on floor for horses. The plan was to bale it up on Friday but the showers never stopped when they weren't even forcast the night before as had baler men in to help me. The thing is iv been to look at the grass today but it's not been a drying day, humid and then rained at 4pm. It hasn't lost all of its colour maybe 50% but just smells off as expected as needs air wind and sun. But it's talking about rain early doors Monday morning then ok rest of day. Tuesday might be lucky to keep dry but Wednesday and Thursday look wet again. So my gut tells me to Tedd it out and get some air in it to reduce the spores but what's the point if going get wet through again. Would it be best to Tedd it then row it up ready to get wet again or just write it off and call it a day. I'm really baffled what's best when the weather isn't giving me a break.

 

[Werzle]

imo its best left alone until 3 days good weather is forcast, the more its moved and rained on after the worse it will be

 

[hendrebc]

Id leave alone too

 

[B&L Equine Services]

Yes I see sense in leaving but don't like it smelling like off. It wasn't rowed up when in started raining on Friday so still all tedded out. Thick crop and had 30mm on this weekend.

 

[ED.D]

I’m only a novice but the best way to make compost is to get it wet, move it and repeat. So would agree to leave it be. Sorry to hear of your predicament.

 

[spin cycle]

i'd keep it moving....had some on the ground 3 weeks once....it was brown....but it was dry dust free and animals loved it.....next year get a swath wilter.....jobs done in 3 days

edit...or moco

 

[B&L Equine Services]

I’m only a novice but the best way to make compost is to get it wet, move it and repeat. So would agree to leave it be. Sorry to hear of your predicament.

Yes true but part of me says try get it dry and row it up before next lot of rain to protect it more then Tedd it out when dry to finish it off. Decisions decisions iv tried many in past but usually get a break in weather but this rain just seems stuck down east side.

 

[B&L Equine Services]

i'd keep it moving....had some on the ground 3 weeks once....it was brown....but it was dry dust free and animals loved it.....next year get a swath wilter.....jobs done in 3 days

Iv got conditioners on my mowers so that helps speed up job it was just the rain on Friday that wasn't planned that threw spanner in works. Baler man arrived and ended up leaving baler at mine thinking might get it later that evening but no chance.

 

[steveR]

Tough old call... Cannot see a good outcome, as after another week, it'll be pretty poor hay I suspect from your description. My preference is to move and then row up if wet weather is anticipated, but I really don't like hay stopping in a wet swath for any period of time at all, it really starts to compost quickly I find. Had a bit left n 2012, and I chopped it in teh end

I'd dry as best as can with a dry spell and bale/wrap, but this is presumably, not an option, even to salvage something?

Good Luck anyway with whatever you decide or is forced on you by this weird spell of wet.

 

[multi power]

Bale it and wrapp it
Only cut hay in settled weather

 

[B&L Equine Services]

Yes very to

Tough old call... Cannot see a good outcome, as after another week, it'll be pretty poor hay I suspect from your description. My preference is to move and then row up if wet weather is anticipated, but I really don't like hay stopping in a wet swath for any period of time at all, it really starts to compost quickly I find. Had a bit left n 2012, and I chopped it in teh end

I'd dry as best as can with a dry spell and bale/wrap, but this is presumably, not an option, even to salvage something?

Good Luck anyway with whatever you decide or is forced on you by this weird spell of wet.

Yes very tough indeed. I'm more annoyed about customers fields as the horse market don't fully get the situation and guess might want compensation. I'm tempted to do half leave and half play about with to see what is best from a bad situation. Least might get 50% better than the other lol. Yes done was for haylage too but don't like the thought of wrapping the dangerous spores in the bale as don't want waste even more money if goes off. Or does it as never done any wrapped damage grass.

 

[B&L Equine Services]

Haha was settled when mowed it on Monday. Was only threat of thunder Tuesday night but apart that was ok then they changed mind on Wednesday to rain Saturday.

Bale it and wrapp it
Only cut hay in settled weather
[/QUOTE

 

[spin cycle]

you should always ask customers when they want it cut....make it clear it's their call....that way it's a bit force majeure .....i built my own swathwilter out of a kidd strawchopper.....best £200 i ever spent.... last year in june i cut some one morning.....wilted it straight after then baled it 6pm.....never knew which it was

 

[milkloss]

Haha was settled when mowed it on Monday. Was only threat of thunder Tuesday night but apart that was ok then they changed mind on Wednesday to rain Saturday.

Yes, but now it’s wet I’d just bale it and wrap it. No point repeating hindsight, I’d sort it as best you can and get it wrapped. Do some sort of deal with your customers or else it’ll be hard getting them to pay to chop it,

 

[RushesToo]

Yes very to

Yes very tough indeed. I'm more annoyed about customers fields as the horse market don't fully get the situation and guess might want compensation. I'm tempted to do half leave and half play about with to see what is best from a bad situation. Least might get 50% better than the other lol. Yes done was for haylage too but don't like the thought of wrapping the dangerous spores in the bale as don't want waste even more money if goes off. Or does it as never done any wrapped damage grass.

I would talk to the customer and suggest the half and half approach and ask them if they agree. That way they will feel informed and taking an equal risk, Saying nothing makes it worse.

Speak with the person is my best advice, If it were yours I would do half and half to prove to myself [even tho'others have said leave it - I would want to test it. I might veer to leaving more as it is so unanimous tho'].

 

[steveR]

Yes very tough indeed. I'm more annoyed about customers fields as the horse market don't fully get the situation and guess might want compensation. I'm tempted to do half leave and half play about with to see what is best from a bad situation. Least might get 50% better than the other lol. Yes done was for haylage too but don't like the thought of wrapping the dangerous spores in the bale as don't want waste even more money if goes off. Or does it as never done any wrapped damage grass.

How far of being hay is the majority of the crop? If still a few days needed in good weather, I'd get it wrapped. Yes, there is a chance there will be mould on the outside of the bales that will scare a horse customer, but the centre should be stable. Possibly some additive to improve keeping and the ensiling process? Others here will tell you what you need, but getting it on at short notice may be an issue...

I suspect the sympathy you will undoubtedly get here when you mention horse customers will cheer you up, but will do little to assuage any grumpiness on their part... I make my clients make the decision.

 

[steveR]

On additive, years ago, I baled hay with Add H (an early acid based product on hay to stop mould forming) and when thhe applicator packed up, I got the stuff on with a knapsack spraying onto the swath in front of the bale for some headland stuff that HAD to be baled with wet on the way...

 

[tepapa]

Look up what options you have for applying an additive. I know there are some you can use to bale hay slightly early. Also if you wrap it make haylage and there is no sugar left in the crop you may well get poor fermentation and a poor crop with spores so may be best with something to preserve it or you'll have an unsaleable product.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hay is cheap this year .wrap it and buy in some grade one hay

 

[steveR]

I know nothing on the Haylage product here whatsoever.

FYI!

GP Feeds Ltd - SILAGE ADDITIVES

GP Feeds Ltd - SILAGE ADDITIVES

www.gpfeeds.co.uk