proprionic acid and hay

ryanwheelock · May 13, 2010

Was reading the post below about hay and fires and it was mentioned about using proprionic acid when baling high moisture hay. Can that stuff be bought at the local co-op or TSC? I use older IH balers so never ran a baler with that on it. how is it injected into the bale and then what does it do?? used on small squares and rounds?? any side effects for animals??
Thanks
Ryan

randallk · May 13, 2010

Google "Harvest Tec".

RodinNS · May 13, 2010

I can buy it through my local coop. Farm equipment dealers are probably a more common source tho.
Harvestec is one manufacturer of the product and the applicator system.
It can be applied to anything as it's done over the pickup. It simply uses a small sprayer to spray directly into the throat of the baler or forage harvester...
There are different products out there as well. Some acids are buffered (neutralized) while some are not.... and they will eat metal.
Since the stuff hasn't killed you or me yet I'd hazard to guess that it won't bother the cows and horses either. Propionic acid is a common food preservative... It's simply a mold inhibitor.

Rod

gitrib · May 13, 2010

We have never used Proprionic Acid We use Concklin Pro-Serve lll applyied at the swather-conditioner, non corrosive. Hay can be baled at 22% moisture in small bales. It is easy to apply.
<a href="http://s323.photobucket.com/albums/nn472/gitrib/?action=view¤t=IMG00061.jpg" target="_blank">

IMG00061.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>
This picture shows are old swather rigged to apply. Note the little spray tank mounted on swather. The barrel on the tractor has nothing to do with applying Pro-Serve. Used Pro-Serve for two years.
<a href="http://s323.photobucket.com/albums/nn472/gitrib/?action=view¤t=IMG00017.jpg" target="_blank">

IMG00017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>

http://www.conklin.com/site/idleknotfarm/

http://www.conklin.com/content/products/ag/haySileageTreatments.cfm

Here is a couple of links to visit.
gitrib

gordy from Iowa · May 13, 2010

Have used acid to store wet corn. Works fine. However, the stuff I used was very corrosive. If what you using is not, what the heck happened to your swather?

gitrib · May 13, 2010

The rust on that old Swather is not from the preservative we use. It is from old age and setting out in all types of weather before we purchased. Sorry you got the wrong impression.
gitrib

ChrisLSD · May 13, 2010

her eis another option:
I am going to try to mix some ecohay 10 and spray it right on the windrows in the field (maybe with atv sprayer) - but this is $50 for 10 ton treatment - so not as cheap as acid

http://doeblers.com/05%20WEB%20PRODUCTS.htm

(click right on the word inoculants for more info

there is another one called crop cure

http://www.cropcure.com/baled_alfalfa_hay.html

click
Untitled URL Link

gordy from Iowa · May 13, 2010

No problem, but I just remember it raised heck with the corn bin walls.

JD Seller · May 14, 2010

A company by the name of " Harvest Tec" makes preservative applicators for many different types of bales. Most that use proprionic acid spray it on the hay just before it is compressed. Round balers spray the windrow right as the pickup lifts it into the baler. Small square balers usually spray it on top of the pickup. I don't think it will work as well if sprayed on the windrow and left to the air. Proprionic acid would eveaporate pretty quickly out in the open.
You need to remember that hay persevatives make the hay have a shelf life. I have seen proprionic acid work for about a year and then the hay would start to mold. It is affected by time.

proprionic acid and hay

ryanwheelock

Member

randallk

Member

RodinNS

Well-known Member

gitrib

Member

gordy from Iowa

Member

gitrib

Member

ChrisLSD

Member

gordy from Iowa

Member

JD Seller

Well-known Member

Similar threads