Hay Chemical treatment

Joe Styke · Feb 15, 2015

Looking to invest at small square baler chemical application system. I have been told they take a toll on the baler--and I have a new NH---but need to know the pros/cons overall.

JD Seller · Feb 15, 2015

The most common treatment is Propionic acid. It will work IF your hay is not too wet. Meaning maybe 18-20% moisture rather than the under 15% you need. You have to know the true moisture to put the correct amount of treatment on. Too much and your hay will not cure correctly. Too little and the hay will mold.

The most common kits are a barrel with a 12 volt electric pump with nozzles mounted where they spray the hay in the pickup area. If the pickup is kept full than you not doing much damage. If it is half full then your spraying acid right directly on the steel in the pickup.

The most common mistake I see is fellows have 25% hay and think that the Propionic acid will make that hay keep. With too wet of hay your still going to get MOLDY hay.

I will not buy/sell a baler that has had a preservative kit on it. The chamber and pickup area are usually all corroded.

Buy a good hay tedder will make you better hay in my opinion.

Another thing to remember is that the Propionic acid only is good for about 8-12 months. If you carry the hay over longer it can mold later if you still have the hay in storage.

Joe Styke · Feb 15, 2015

Thanks for the great advice. I normaly try to bale 18.5% moisture or below so not sure I would gain anything.

Bruce from Can. · Feb 15, 2015

Never had acid ,we used a hay dryer in the barn,and it is still sitting there,worked well,but just too much work and too many bales for me.

longmeadowfarm · Feb 15, 2015

Why use any Propionic acid when you could just use a decent rotary rake before baling. I've been baling hay since 1954 and have never had a significant problem with mold. I've been using a rotary and big round baler for many years and don't have any spoilage/mold. We farm in the northeast where we get copious amounts of rainfall.. just takes management.. but then many people substitute chemicals for adequate management.

JayinNY · Feb 15, 2015

Google New Holland crop saver.

Dave H (MI) · Feb 15, 2015

Funny...I have no idea what the moisture content of the hay is when I bale it. I just know it is dry. The horsy folk like the pretty green bales of treated hay. If they have enough money to pay for it, then that is their business. I just tell folks I would be happy to buy the equipment to do it...but then the hay goes up. That ends that.

notjustair · Feb 15, 2015

Conklin has a product that goes on the mower conditioner just as it is being cut (under the drape). It is supposed to really be amazing as far as increasing palatability.

JD Seller · Feb 15, 2015

Jay they may say its buffered to avoid corrosion but I have worked on a lot of balers ,small square and round, that have had a preservative kit on them. Just about every single one that had much ran through it was corroded. If they had the set up where the material was sprayed directly on the pickup it made changing pickup teeth a real joy. You would have to torch out every single bolt.

Josh in Pa · Feb 15, 2015

Most types are buffered acid. It will not corrode your baler or damage the paint. The acid helps, you can start earlier and go later. It can also get you a few more hours if rain is coming. Not the answer to everything, but it helps. Here anybody serious has an applicator on their baler. Not always running, but ready when it's needed.
Josh

JayinNY · Feb 15, 2015

I don't disagree with you, I was just pointing him into looking it up. I also have seen many balers rusted out from preservative. I won't have it on my baler, not at $4000 if that's what there up to now. 7 years ago the deal was $3500. My ex-father-in-law put it on his John Deere 336 Baler in 08, I saw the preservative, a drum, out in the shed one day and asked him what it was, he said it was crop saver this was in November I said how come you have a full container he said well I don't use it it's $600 for 55 gallons, well why did you spend $3500 for the system to not use it? As I can see now with my ex-wife the apple don't fall far from the tree.

BarryRanch · Feb 15, 2015

(reply to post at 13:26:49 02/15/15)

We have a friend that services Agco balers for a living. He said that it rots all the steal out. And its expensive. A bigger operation has them, but they are rarely used. Personally, I think its a waste of money. If you bale your hay right, it'll last 3 years. Sure you'll have waste, but with 3 year old hay, who is complaing? Plus spraying that on your hay is just another chemical your cows are eating.

moresmoke · Feb 16, 2015

Hay preservative can work really well, if you are in an area where it is really needed. If your tedder gets more hours than any other piece of equipment on the farm, you may be in a position to use preservative. Two things about using it and taking care of your baler. First the spray nozzles need to be in front of the pickup, so over spray lands on the ground, no allover the baler. Second do not leave loose hay or bales in the baler, clean it out every day. The preservative and the moisture in the hay will cause corrosion if left in the baler.

Tx Jim · Feb 16, 2015

These two preservatives were mentioned on a hay forum I frequently visit.

First Responce

http://www.nuhnbio-tech.ca/view.php?public/The_Juice/Hay_Preservative

Hay Chemical treatment

Joe Styke

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JD Seller

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Joe Styke

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Bruce from Can.

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longmeadowfarm

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JayinNY

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Dave H (MI)

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notjustair

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JD Seller

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Josh in Pa

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JayinNY

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BarryRanch

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moresmoke

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Tx Jim

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