Wrapping failed hay makes absolute sh#te mouldy silage.
Advice on wet hay
- Thread starter NewlandFarmServices
- Start date
Whistler
Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
I am in the same position cut Sunday 21st. Looked at the forecast before cutting and fine all week and they changed there mind. Really frustrating. I haven't touch it. Father has said leave it but time is ticking.
- Location
- Peak district
No it doesn’t. You’re not doing it right if it’s mouldy. If it’s airtight it can’t go mouldy.
Spores are already in the hay when its black rained on sh#te, amazes me when people think wrapping terrible hay will improve it. It gets the field cleared but its still terrible.
RushesToo
Member
- Location
- Fingringhoe
@Quaddog @Werzle I think you are both saying the same thing - just misunderstanding timing and decisions. It could turn into a spat, or more useful advice could come out of it - try:
- Don't let if get black before you wrap it
- Location
- Near Colchester
Anyone who hasn't had this problem hasn't made enough hay.
I always used to turn it every second day unless it was actually raining, it stops it going black but will lose all of its colour.
I now leave it until there is a decent forecast, turn it, bale when dry and put it into a power station, it saves a lot of wear on the tedder, time and angst.
I have 25 acres down at the moment, it was nearly ready to bale last Friday even after 2 lots of rain, I am not worrying about it I need to move on to getting about a thousand quads of straw done, mostly from other farms and so they are now priority.
I always used to turn it every second day unless it was actually raining, it stops it going black but will lose all of its colour.
I now leave it until there is a decent forecast, turn it, bale when dry and put it into a power station, it saves a lot of wear on the tedder, time and angst.
I have 25 acres down at the moment, it was nearly ready to bale last Friday even after 2 lots of rain, I am not worrying about it I need to move on to getting about a thousand quads of straw done, mostly from other farms and so they are now priority.
Nobodys going to fall out its only our opinions, the original post stated it didnt smell too good and by now its got worse imo. Better to leave it and make cow hay out of it which will be cheaper than wrapping it and making awful haylage/silage that nobody will touch imo.
Boohoo
Member
- Location
- Newtownabbey
It shouldn't be at that stage yet, the plan was to bale it on Friday. It won't be first class haylage but it'll keep and feed perfectly well if it was reasonable grass to start with, it hasn't been contaminated with soil and the majority of the rain that has fallen on it can be dried out. If it's turned black already then it was rubbish before it was cut and should be rowed up, baled and dumped.
NewlandFarmServices
Member
- Location
- Selby, N.Yorks
Well i change my mind 100s times a day what i going to do about it all. I just had to laugh in the end today and went to pub because been rowing up all morning (rain at 6.20 and 7.30am slowed the start) on some of mine and got to a customer that i turned yesterday which was remarkably dry compared to others, got it rowed up and was waiting for the contractor to bale/wrap it, he did 5 bales and the header auger chain broke, by time helped him get it off and he went for it be fixed, heavens opened and place is a washout. Had 4 other good spells of thunder rain since and a predicted 15mm tomorrow. Just cant seem get anything right. Just wanted that field done today as other not fit, but have put some in rows to move off the wet floor as hopefully Friday/Saturday is ok so aim to get it all sorted!!!!!???
May be worth considering getting your own baler for next year, relying on contractors to come and bale hay the exact moment it’s ready is taking a big risk.
NewlandFarmServices
Member
- Location
- Selby, N.Yorks
Yes im looking at getting a round baler/wrapper, just money isnt there lol especially now lost all this grass! I have my own small baler, just could do with a big baler to.
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
yep agree with that , bale and wrap first reasonable day after rain ,unless it gets wet in first day or so , anything thats left to go black better bailed and put on the compost pile ,no f good for anything , and dangerous for the farmer (spores) , and start again .
Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
I still have a couple of drums from over 40 years ago!
Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Looking at the forecast for the next couple of weeks I would be considering dumping it on a muckheap. There is plenty of hay about at less than cost price.
Might be useful sometime... I think I used mine up on some bales in the barns as a mould suppressant a few years ago!
Whistler
Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Looked yesterday it was dry with wet lumps and grass growing through. Kicked it out doesn't look good. Its going do a AD plant. Got a contractor coming to bale.
At least there is a fallback option...
NewlandFarmServices
Member
- Location
- Selby, N.Yorks
Iv been moving rows today to get the grass underneath dry then plan to spin out tomorrow and get it baled wet or dry this weekend as sick to death of seeing it and costs me more as days go on. Need bang more fert on and get a 2nd cut that desperately need as lacking haylage. One customer been to today I said u got more water in your field than a water park so nothing can do until dries.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Just out of curiosity, how do the power stations buy it? It is just so much per ton, or does it have to be a certain DM%? I assume they don’t pay extra for quality, just a base price per t of combustible material?
Whistler
Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
The contractor isn't paying anything for it. I trust he will get something for it.
- Tags
- baling bedding potash round baler