Does bean straw burn alright?

Pigman_mike

New Member
I have been burning OSR straw in my Farm 2000 boiler for years now as loose baled mini hestons. However, no one around here can grow OSR anymore so I was just wondering what experience people have with burning bean straw and how it compares? Any tips on how it should be baled and how easily it burns? I am trying to find some Linseed but everyone around here is growing beans.
 

Pigman_mike

New Member
That is reassuring as I always felt bean straw was soft and not woody like OSR straw. I bale 80 x 70 x 190 mini hestons for my farm 2000. I don't think these boilers changed a lot in 40 years. They may have changed them for the emissions regulations but I bought mine before those.

I also think beans are harvested earlier than they used to be so I hope I can get the straw dry. I have struggled with OSR straw for the last two years. It has been cut and then it has rained continuously for 2 or more weeks. You end up turning it, it breaks up, mixes soil and stones in, far from ideal. On the other hand it burns smoke free as it has had a good soaking!
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
That is reassuring as I always felt bean straw was soft and not woody like OSR straw. I bale 80 x 70 x 190 mini hestons for my farm 2000. I don't think these boilers changed a lot in 40 years. They may have changed them for the emissions regulations but I bought mine before those.

I also think beans are harvested earlier than they used to be so I hope I can get the straw dry. I have struggled with OSR straw for the last two years. It has been cut and then it has rained continuously for 2 or more weeks. You end up turning it, it breaks up, mixes soil and stones in, far from ideal. On the other hand it burns smoke free as it has had a good soaking!
Hah , you obviously have never handled beans in small bales, it must be the hardest straw of all, certainly was on the hands:confused:
 

Pigman_mike

New Member
Have to say I have never baled bean straw in small bales, I can't think why. We always had a few round baled as well years ago so I think the beans were rolled up.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
Have to say I have never baled bean straw in small bales, I can't think why. We always had a few round baled as well years ago so I think the beans were rolled up.
We used to bale all our bean straw , it was very good on the bottom of cattle yards as a base layer as it encouraged drainage.. We used to lay it out as a complete layer of bales then remove the strings
 

Andrew

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Location
Huntingdon, UK
It burns just fine in them, our neighbor prefers it to osr.
Downside is baling it, especially if it’s a Hesston built baler the beans can get stuck in the trapdoor for the stuffer, then you get mis shape bales.
 

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