Wet hay!!

General Brown · #1 02/21/11, 09:08 AM

My son brought me some alfalfa hay from Iowa. He didnt have it tarped and got caught in rain. Some of the bales are now wet. What are my best options?

olivehill · #2 02/21/11, 09:16 AM

Large bales? Small squares?

If they're small, bust them open and spread them out to dry, feed ASAP and toss what ends up moldy.

Becca · #3 02/21/11, 09:27 AM

This has happened to me and i just open them up to dry out and feed them first.

General Brown · #4 02/21/11, 09:36 AM

Thanks...we have it unloaded now and only the top 4 bales were wet, and only about 2 inches into the bale. They are small square bales weighing 65 lbs or better. I have them wet side up with nothing on top of them. Will this be enough, or should I still open them?
This is some excellent alfalfa!!!

Slugmar · #5 02/21/11, 10:26 AM

If you cant feed it out right away and worried about it molding fire up the weed eater and just cut that 2 inch off the bale.

julieq · #6 02/21/11, 11:24 AM

If they're baled tight feed quickly and you may be surprised that you don't lose very much at all. Most of the farmers around here don't even cover their alfalfa, whether large or small bales.