storing hay Archives - Western Packaging

4 Tips On Storing Hay

Proper hay storage is vital for ensuring that your hay lasts as long as possible. It can rot when continually exposed to water and other elements. There are many different ways tlkhat people choose to store their hay, and you have to choose the best method for you and your hay. Good news for you, Western Packaging has put together this article to give you four tips on storing hay.

1. Don’t Store The Hay Too Close Together

One of the most important things that you can do is space out your hay bales. You do not want to store them touching each other, or packed in tightly. Ideally, you want to have a space between each one of your haystacks in order for them to breathe.

This will help the humidity levels to stay within proper range and not build up moisture. It is a constant cycle of storing hay bales and checking humidity levels. It is one of the most vital things that you can do to produce high quality hay bales.

2. Use A Moisture Sensor When Baling

The amount of moisture that your hay bales are exposed to is vital to the overall success of it. You will find yourself having to dispose of high rates of your hay bales when they’re exposed to high levels of humidity. Most farmers who bale hay regularly, will have a sensor that measures the amount of moisture in the air.

By using this, you can know if your hay is in the proper levels of humidity. The perfect humidity level that you want to be in is below 15%. By using a humidity sensor probe, you can manually check the bales individually. If one is a little too high, you can keep note to monitor the bale to make sure it comes down to a proper level.

3. Store Hay Indoors

If you have the option to store your hay indoors, you want to do that. It is a safer environment from humidity and moisture. When rolled hay bales sit in water, you can lose your hay due to rotting.

The color of the hay can fade when exposed to the sunlight all day, every day. Many farmers choose to have covered sheds or indoor facilities to store their hay in to preserve the color. It is another way your company can provide top-quality hay to its customers.

4. Keep A Log Of Your Hay Bales

It can be so easy to lose track of which hay bale was rolled and stored on which day, especially when you regularly do it every day. Keeping a log and labeling the bales as you do them will help you keep track of the time and date they were stored.

There are different methods that you can go about this. If you have large enough storage options, you can keep other bale dates separated. But, that is not possible for everyone, so a log with labeled bales is another excellent option.

Make The Right Choice For You

Some people choose to use tarps or other methods for storing their hay. It may be the right choice for you. But, if you have found yourself struggling with hay loss, maybe it is time to find a new method.

Contact Western Packaging Today For More Information

If you need more information on options for storing hay, give Western Packaging a call. We would be happy to help you develop the best solution for you. It is our pleasure to provide our customers with top-quality products and information that they need. We hope to hear from you soon.

5 Tips For Storing Hay In The Winter

Winter is upon us and it is vital that you protect your investment and start of the year right. Whether you get snow or not winter is typically a wet time of year across parts of the United States. Western Packaging wants to help you protect your assets, here are some storage ideas for storing hay for winter.

1. Promote Proper Bale Density

Proper bale density is an important part of protecting your hay, even more so when there is the possibility for moisture loss. Loosely packed hay can retain moisture that can penetrate the hay allowing microbes to use the oxygen to break down the hay’s nutrients. If this happens excessive losses are to be expected.

A simple way to check your bales density is to press your palm up against the bale. If you can press the bale in by more than a half an inch, the bale is too loose and you should expect losses. You can prevent losses in these specific bales by storing them inside.

2. Store Your Hay Indoors

Storing hay for winter indoors is always the best option, being that you can better control its climate and environment. You will preserve color and quality and reduce your DM (dry matter) losses significantly. It is not necessary to have something with four walls for bale storage, even a structure with a roof alone will help to prevent moisture build-up and losses.

3. Top Covers

Top covers are a great way to reduce losses. Being that indoor storage is usually not an option for most, top covers rate well for promoting high-quality winter hay storage. Many farmers choose to keep their round bales outside and open to the elements.

The main issue with this is that exposure to the elements can reduce the hay’s digestibility. To prevent this use a tarp, plastic wrap, or canvas cover to prevent DM losses.

4. Elevate The Hay On An Incline To Reduce Moisture

Storing your hay allows for better drainage while elevating your hay is important to promote proper air circulation around the hay bales. Storing your hay directly on the ground can account for up to half of your DM losses, you can store it on pallets to be off the ground. This is especially true in the winter when the ground is moist and the sun is not as warm to keep the ground and the hay dry.

When storing your hay up off the ground there are a few cost-effective ways that may work for you. You may be able to find people giving away old pallets, tires, bricks, railroad ties, and even old fence post. Get creative and keep your hay off the ground.

5. Leave Space For Bales To Breath

Adequate circulation is a must when storing your hay in the winter. You want to make sure that you leave the right amount of space between the bales to deter excess moisture. It is not recommended that you stack your hay bales unless you cover them or store them inside. covered.

When you do, make sure that there are at least 2 feet from the top of the structure and the surface of the hay. Knowing how to store your bales outside will help keep from errors being made. You should place them north to south, end to end, making sure to keep around 3 to 4 feet of space between each row for proper air circulation. This will help prevent your winter DM losses.

We Want To Hear From You

The team at Western Packaging wants to hear from you. If you are in need of winter storage solutions for your hay give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you!