I live in an area where rain happens. There is a very small window of ideal dry conditions for putting up hay, if it isn't rain, then it's mist or dew. Even dry hay in the barn gets damp through our rainy winters. Since I've lived here, I 've wondered how these farms get by when their hay gets rained on or otherwise wet.
I learn something new every day!
We are buying our hay out of the field. The weather is cool, cloudy and misty. The hay is damp. Our 96 year old hay lady told us to sprinkle a handful of rock salt on each bale as we stack them, they won't spoil. She says they have always salted their hay no matter how dry or wet it is and did this back when the put up loose hay. all of the old farmers do this. She says in her memory, and she was born out there, they have never lost hay because of moisture. The condition of her farm and home, and those of the other old pioneer families, attest to the fact that they indeed never faced many losses on their farms.
So we are salting the hay as we stack it. Any one else ever hear of salting the hay to keep it from moisture damage?
I learn something new every day!
We are buying our hay out of the field. The weather is cool, cloudy and misty. The hay is damp. Our 96 year old hay lady told us to sprinkle a handful of rock salt on each bale as we stack them, they won't spoil. She says they have always salted their hay no matter how dry or wet it is and did this back when the put up loose hay. all of the old farmers do this. She says in her memory, and she was born out there, they have never lost hay because of moisture. The condition of her farm and home, and those of the other old pioneer families, attest to the fact that they indeed never faced many losses on their farms.
So we are salting the hay as we stack it. Any one else ever hear of salting the hay to keep it from moisture damage?