Storing and Protecting Hay

Where should I store hay on my farm?

1. Obviously the best place to store your hay is in a hay or machinery shed. Move machinery out of the shed (even the one with the green paint) and put the hay in there. IF YOU HAVE A SHED, PUT THE HAY IN THE SHED.
   
   
2. Do not stack round bales on top of each other, the water just runs down one onto the other. Simply stack them sausage style, with a ute distance between rows,
   that way you can get between rows to slash or spray etc.
   
   
3. Hay naturally sheds water, but when hay sits in water it naturally absorbs it; therefore damage is more likely on bottom bales than top bales. Always ensure hay stacks are not located in old floodways or low-lying areas.
   
   
4. Fence lines can divert local water during a heavy down pour. Consider carefully where you position stacks along fence lines.
   
   
5. Create good drainage between stacks so water does not flow off one stack and then underneath another. Grade a small diversion bank if this could be a problem.
   
   
6. Store your hay in an area that is well drained and dry, with good all-weather access. Fodder sales often come during wet / cold periods, so good truck access can make or break a sale.

How do I tarp large square bales?

1. Make stack sizes of approximately one semi load – big tarps are too hard to keep on, and blow in the wind causing tarp damage and leakage.
   
   
2. Strictly ONE BALE WIDE – do not go any wider, it is too hard to keep the tarp down and creates shallow points for water to lie and soak through the tarp.
   
   
3. Make stacks as high as possible. 8x4x3 bales should be a minimum of four high and five high if made well. The higher the stacks the less exposure, especially to bottom bales.
   
   
4. Remember TARPS ARE NOT WATER PROOF, only water resistant; therefore the idea is to shed water quickly. Do not allow dips or hollows in the top where water can lay.
   
   
5. PROTECT THE TOP - Cap tarp only. When you tarp the sides, it doesn’t allow hay to breath, so if water does get in, it can’t get out. Leaving the sides open allows moisture to get out.
   
   
6. PROTECT THE SIDES – Hay stack bales will naturally shed any water that runs down the sides so long as you create hay stacks with straight edges - no bale should be sticking out wider than the bale above as water can run off the tarp, down the sides and then back up through the stack via a ledge created by a bale sticking out (capillary action).
   
   
7. PROTECT THE BOTTOM – Locate stacks on gentle slopes, irrigation channel banks, gravelly or sandy ridges where water drains away quickly and does not pond around the stacks. Make sure there is good drainage on both sides.
   
   
8. PROTECT THE TARP and THE HAY:
   
   

   	Tie down as much as possible to prevent tarp flapping and rubbing.
   	Use the bale strings as anchor points for the tie down ropes.
   	Baling twine is satisfactory as tie down ropes.
   	Use a claw hammer to help get the anchor rope under the bale string or make a “needle” from fencing wire and thread the anchor rope under the bale string.
   	Use every available eyelet – the more tie down ropes the better.
   	Simply half hitch the tie down rope around the anchor string to tighten.
   	Re-tighten regularly (minimum monthly) – this prevents the tarp from flapping and wearing.
   	If you have old plastic, lay this down on the top or edges of your canola stack before you tarp it. Canola is abrasive, you can even whipper snip the edges.

PROTECT THE OPERATOR

Always use safe work practices. It is possible to roll the tarp up so that it will unroll on-top of the stack, with little effort and without the need to get on-top of the stack. If you are getting on top of a stack always use a safety cage, approved harness and safety equipment.

SUMMARY

Hay will be very sought after and valuable at some point in the future. Growers don’t leave 25 tonne grain bins untarped, so why leave 25 tonnes of hay untarped? So please, get involved and get active, look after it. Just look at the price below, so get your tarp order now on 1300 669429.

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