Why are hay bales left in fields?

You might find hay bales left in a field simply because a farmer hasn't had time to stop by and grab the bales yet. Most farmers work overtime during the summer to get the hay in the barn by the time the fields stop producing.

Why do they leave hay bales out?

The reason they are in empty fields is that because of their good keeping qualities, you can bale them up and then just leave them where the baler spat them out until you need them – so reduces handling and storage.

What is the point of hay bales?

In conclusion: hay bales are a feed source for ruminant animals made from a variety of forage crops. This is not to be confused with straw, which is not as nutritious and is instead used as bedding for livestock.

Do bales of hay rot?

Even if the heat doesn't cause a fire the build-up of temperature will cause nutrient loss. Even at temperatures of 45 to 55 degrees hay can lose up to 30% of its nutrient content. Mouldy hay can be attributed to stock going off their feed.

Why do farmers store hay?

In general, three steps are required to turn a green crop into what can be called hay: cutting, drying, and baling. Then, hay must be stored properly in order for it to hold onto the nutrients. If hay becomes wet, or if it sits in the sun, nutrients can be lost.

Out standing in their field? What happens to bales stored outside after over a year...

Why do farmers spread out hay bales?

Of course, the most obvious reason why farmers leave bales of hay out for a bit (though no more than a few days) is to let the bales dry. Stacking wet hay poses the risk of it becoming moldy or catching on fire.

Why do farmers put white plastic on fields?

They suppress the growth of weeds, increase fertiliser uptake, regulate temperature and humidity, and protect plants and soil from bad weather. Researchers estimate that plastic mulch increases crop yields by a third.

Is hay ruined if it gets rained on?

Rained-on hay often has relatively high protein values compared to fiber content unless there's great leaf loss. Leaves contain a lot of the plant's protein. As soluble carbohydrates leach, structural fibers make up a greater percent of forage dry matter. The digestibility of rained-on hay can decline 6 to 40 percent.

What happens when hay bales get wet?

The first thing to keep in mind when dealing with wet hay is that moisture can easily lead to combustion. Twenty percent moisture is about the highest level that bales should reach. Above this, microbes begin to break down plant matter and mold growth occurs.

What happens to hay when it gets wet?

Unfortunately, rain can damage hay in several ways. Rain leaches soluble nutrients and keeps the moisture level high, thus increasing the likelihood of decay and mold. Hay rained on during field drying of course damages legume hay more than grass hay and the drier the hay when rain occurs, the greater the damage.

Is hay just dead grass?

Hay is a grass or can be a form of grass. When referring to it as a form of grass, it is a cut grass that has been cut then dried for the purpose of becoming an animal feed or food. If it's still not to be used as food, then it can readily be stored some place else.

Does hay grow back every year?

How Many Cuttings? Depending on the weather and the length of your growing season, it can be possible to cut hay early in the year, let it regrow, and then cut it once or even twice more before fall arrives. These second and third cuttings can produce higher-quality hay that is prized among farmers.

Can humans survive on hay?

Drying out grass in the form of hay does not break down the cellulose. Therefore, similarly to grass, hay is not edible for humans.

Is hay a good cash crop?

Over the last few years many hay acres have been planted to cash grain crops. Combining fewer acres in hay production with decreased forage yields, the supply of hay is low. Consequently, hay prices are strong and in demand.

Can a hay bale explode?

STILLWATER — It might sound strange, but with no apparent ignition source, hay bales can burst into flames and cause much damage to storage facilities or spark a raging wildfire. The combination of low wind speeds, high humidity, moist hay and hot temperatures is a recipe for disaster.

What do you do with hay bales?

Donate to a plant nursery – Even if you don't have your own garden, donating your leftover hay bales to a local plant nursery is a great way to get rid of them. Also, most places are happy to accept your donations free of charge.

Can hay catch on fire by itself?

Plant reactions and bacterial growth combine to raise temperatures in even the driest hay bales, although most never catch fire on their own. However, when hay is packed tightly, and enough moisture gets in, the conditions may be right for spontaneous hay combustion.

Does hay get moldy?

Mold and bacteria will grow on hay (without preservative added) at moisture levels above 14% to 15%. The mold growth produces heat, carbon dioxide and water, which further damages the hay. Moldy hay can result in dry matter and nutrient loss and produce spores and dust.

Does raking hay help it dry?

Raking tends to roll the wetter hay from the bottom of the swath to the outer surface of the windrow, which improves drying. Following the initial improvement, the increase in swath density can reduce drying rate, so the crop moisture content at raking is important.

Can horses eat wet hay?

Wet hay typically goes through a fermentative state, of sorts, and it would not be good for the horse to eat it while this was happening,” she continued. Caution should be used in purchasing hay that was wet when baled. Too much moisture affects the quality of baled hay.

Can you cut hay with dew on it?

Avoid cutting hay until the morning dew has fully dried. “There is enough water that must leave the plants already without adding more from the nightly dew,” Kaatz says.

Why are strawberry fields covered in plastic?

In strawberries using plastic mulch can prevent the soil from getting too warm or too cool, allowing growers to time their harvest better and even speed up the cycle. It helps suppress weeds and protect strawberries from dirt, mold and fungus. Bush berry growers use plastic-covered hoop houses to protect their crops.

What is grown under plastic in fields?

Being biodegradable, the plastic naturally breaks down during the summer and has all but disappeared by the end of the growing season. Potatoes in Ayrshire are also grown under similar plastic so they can be harvested even earlier and fetch hefty premiums on an undersupplied market.

What crop is grown under plastic?

The maize sprouts and pushes through the hole in the plastic. The complete cover system, being developed in Ireland by IP Europe (plastic) and Samco Engineering (machinery) under the X-Tend name, sows the seed under the plastic all in one operation.