Alfalfa hay under a tarp

VicS · Mar 9, 2016

Has anyone stored alfalfa hay under a tarp for any length of time? We would like to. Reason is time. Seems we have a narrow window to get it cut, baled and picked up before it raines. We would be stacking it 7 high and 8 bales wide with a tractor and loader. Thanks. Vic

GregCO · Mar 9, 2016

As long as it is dry and your tarp doesn't leak it should be fine. If it too wet or the tarp leaks in the rain it will mold in a big hurry and be junk hay. If your tarp leaks you are better off not covering it at all. Stacks will take some rain and snow with no damage as long as it has a chance to dry and doesn't get soaked.

Greg

JD Seller · Mar 9, 2016

Small squares or large squares??? The one trouble I have seen with tarping fresh bale hay is when it goes through the cure it will give off moisture. If the tarp is flat against the hay it will trap that moisture and there will be mold along the top of the bale.

If your stacking small squares then We pyramid the top bales so there is an air channel for ventilation.

J.Wondergem · Mar 9, 2016

I agree with JD Seller. The hay can't get wet, and has to have air.

Dave H (MI) · Mar 9, 2016

No matter how you do it, some will mold. Did that for years. I tried everything, even a conestoga wagon type affair with pvc tubing to hold off the tarp. It just does not work well.

MSD · Mar 9, 2016

My dad did it all the time with small square bales. At that time there was a lot of flax produced and he always baled some of the straw. He would put a layer of it over the hay bales, then the tarp, then another layer of straw and covered that all with one layer of hay bales. He never had a problem with mold under the tarp that way.

Kickinbull · Mar 10, 2016

I am glad this discussion came up. I have been asking why the hay is like it is under the tarps. Was told that it was put up wrong. Dave H I am especially glad that you mentioned the pvc thing not working. That was where I was headed. Thank you all, this is a great place. Brad.

paul · Mar 10, 2016

Square bales you need to keep dry with a tarp over the top; but hay needs to sweat out, let moisture vent out of it, so you need air space and air movement through the hay.

So.......

You need to work out some way to keep the rain off, but allow room and access for air movement.

Some put pallets on top and then the tarp, and you need some space at the bottom for the air to get in to the bales. Somehow, some way for air to move through between the bales and the tarp.

Paul

RedGreenGuy · Mar 10, 2016

Tried with small square alfalfa bales right out of the baler. Did not let it go through "the sweat" before really closing sides and bottom edges. 60 days later bales were a limp rag and unsellable.

hd6gtom · Mar 10, 2016

I didn't have room in the shed for the last load. put a good tarp on it and left it along the hay field. dam deer ate all they could reach from the ground then actually jumped up on top of the load on the hay rack. Their hooves poked holes in the tarp. I was able to sell about 12 out of 60 bales. but goats will eat rotten hay before they touch a good bale so it wasn't a total loss. moral -- don't leave them out when you have hundreds of deer around eating everything.

W_B · Mar 10, 2016

Made the mistake of covering some damp hay with a tarp to keep dust and rain drips from a leaky roof off off it. Big mistake. It got moldy. Did get it dried out and the critters did eat it, with no ill effects. Won't do that again, can't kill the dust but did fix the roof.

David G · Mar 10, 2016

It sounds like you have a tight window, which means the hay would not be overly dry, this makes it that much worse to tarp. I have never won when racing to bale and not given hay enough time to dry properly.

VicS · Mar 10, 2016

Thanks guys. Glad I asked. Sounds like is a air thing. We was going to put on pallets. Maybe could take it out of shed after a couple of weeks. Then stack outside with pallets under and over it. Oh hay is small squares 50 lb. 16percent moisture or less. Have a monitor on baler. Thanks Again.

Alfalfa hay under a tarp

VicS

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GregCO

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JD Seller

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J.Wondergem

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Dave H (MI)

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MSD

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Kickinbull

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paul

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RedGreenGuy

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hd6gtom

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W_B

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David G

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VicS

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