Stopping damp bales shed floor

[marshfarmer]

I store my hay in couple of big lean to sheds. They have level soil floors and I straw over the floors well before storing the hay in there. The bottom bales always end up black on the bottom by the spring, which was never a problem when I fed my own stock but I need to improve for the horsey market and reduce losses. I don't really want to go down the pallet route if possible, are there any other alternatives?

 

[Courier]

If not pallets then maybe a layer of tyres ?

 

[Angus]

I have recycled some old bale wrap and a plastic sheet. The barn floor is just earth. This does the job, but you do need to check the bottom bales time to time to make sure the plastic has not been moved. I guess I am falling foul of some regulation, but I view it as responsible recycling, Angus.

 

[Andrew]

I store my hay in couple of big lean to sheds. They have level soil floors and I straw over the floors well before storing the hay in there. The bottom bales always end up black on the bottom by the spring, which was never a problem when I fed my own stock but I need to improve for the horsey market and reduce losses. I don't really want to go down the pallet route if possible, are there any other alternatives?

How much straw are you using?

 

[Bob lincs]

We use the stuff that they line reservoirs with on our soil floors , it’s really thick and can stand a forklift running about on it . Not cheap but a really good moisture barrier . Phone a liner company and see if you can buy a part roll or left over bit .

 

[Goweresque]

Whats wrong with pallets? I store all my hay like that, even on dry concrete floors. With the gee-gee brigade you need to minimise the possibilities for complaints Round these parts you can get pallets for free, every business has a stack outside that they're happy to part with, everything get delivered on a pallet but no one collects them any more.

 

[cotswoldcs]

We use old fertiliser bags. Massively saves on damp bales. Bit of a faff but we don't have that many pallets and they're free. We have plenty of them and just recycle them after use.

 

[Dry Rot]

Damp proof membrane (DPM) from your local builders merchants. Get the heavy grade black stuff. The blue stuff seems to disintegrate. I use it for everything. Covering firewood, bales outside, lining below tin roofs to stop condensation, etc. In my experience, hay bales will wick moisture up from the ground, it isn't just condensation, but the plastic helps stop it.

 

[marshfarmer]

How much straw are you using?

Fair layer just shake a few bales out with loader.

 

[Andrew]

Fair layer just shake a few bales out with loader.

Do you clear the floor every year? Is the floor level lower than outside?

Only ask as we don’t clear the straw from one year to the next, just top it with more if needed. Floor level is slightly higher than outside though so not a problem.

Maybe spread a load of crushed limestone in the floor of the shed, and carry on with the straw?

 

[Fivedoors]

I stack hay on a layer of straw with a cheap tarpaulin underneath,but the straw is still in the wads from a square baler with air gaps between the wads are deep enough to stop the hay touching the sheet.tried thin layer of straw on sheet but bales sweat on the sheet all floor bales now can be sold

 

[Flat 10]

Either Dpm then pallets or dpm and then straw. Or use a layer of sacrificial straw bales but this can lose you a fair bit of capacity.

 

[Pan mixer]

This is after selling or using only a quarter of my hay, we just keep accumulating pallets, I thought all farms did.

 

[Lincsman]

I dont have much but a layer of old straw bales stays there all the time.

 

[davidroberts30]

plastic or old fert bags on the soil then straw on top
just make sure the rain cant get on top of the plastic

 

[Robert K]

This is after selling or using only a quarter of my hay, we just keep accumulating pallets, I thought all farms did.

You've missed the 5th November now

 

[Dry Rot]

You've missed the 5th November now

Then there's all those nails to pick up!

 

[Pan mixer]

You've missed the 5th November now

Far too valuable to burn, use again for many years.

 

[haybob]

I was given a load of old garden decking planks still in good condition. Not as much height as pallets but just enough to sit hay on or can double them up . Easier to handle than pallets

 

[bravheart]

Is it round bales?
Get straw rounds on the ground, set aside and reuse next year