The Best Ways to Store Your Hay Bales

Whether you’ve grown and baled your own hay or had yours delivered, proper hay storage is key to keeping your livestock healthy and productive. Here are some factors to consider when establishing hay bale protection, the best ways to store hay bales, and answers to common questions about hay storage.

How to Protect Hay Bales in Storage

Hay bales represent a big investment in time, labor, money, and energy. The quality of your hay over time will be directly related to how well you store it. Improperly stored hay will rot and lose its nutritional value. It can also be a fire hazard.

Choose the Right Storage Location

Most hay bale losses happen because of mold and bacterial issues. To prevent this, the hay bale storage location should be dry, situated outside of flood prone areas. A barn or shed with a solid floor can keep your harvest protected and ventilated to reduce moisture. If you have to store hay bales outdoors, create a bale storage pad and choose a well-drained area on a slight slope to discourage pooling water.

Note that studies have shown outdoor storage losses can range from 5-35%, and can be reduced by two thirds simply by storing hay inside.

Elevate the Hay Bales

Bales should be elevated to keep them off the ground, even on concrete floors. This improves air circulation and reduces the risk of moisture absorption. A gravel base is preferred for bale storage over concrete if bales are stored flat, as it allows for better drainage. However, bales should ideally be placed on pallets, wooden posts, or rails set against the flooring.

Moisture Monitoring and Ventilation

Check bales regularly for signs of mold or damp. Mold and bacteria actively eat and break down your hay bales, decreasing its quality and raising your fire risks. If you detect water seepage issues adjust the ventilation, or — if practical in your space — add a dehumidifier to reduce humidity.

Rodent Management

Mice and rats love hay bales. They provide cozy hideaways during cold weather and are a perfect nesting site. Unfortunately, a large enough infestation may also cause damage to your bales and draw unwelcome predators. Rodents are also notorious for spreading disease. Stay on top of plugging holes in your storage location, and use baits and traps as appropriate.

Best Ways to Store Hay Bales

After hay has been baled, the moisture content should remain below 20 percent. Moisture content above 20 percent will cause mold, excess heat, nutrient loss, and discoloration.

Stacking Hay Bales

Stacking rectangular bales vertically on their ends instead of horizontally can prevent easy rodent tunneling. Bales of any shape should be placed tightly together to protect interior edges from moisture. Denser bales will absorb less moisture and resist more water intrusion than loosely packed or baled hay.

Covering Hay Bales

Bales stored outside can be covered with tarps or strong plastic covers to minimize moisture damage from rain, humidity, and melt from snow.

Common Questions About How to Store Hay Bales

Are Round Hay Bales Easier to Store than Rectangular Bales?

Round bales gained in popularity due to their lower labor costs to produce. They are also easier to store outside, as the rounded shape means they shed more rainfall and snowmelt than square bales. However, outdoor storage of any hay bales can result in significant losses if not done properly, especially of the bale perimeters. Square hay bales will lose less moisture over time, as round bales have more surface area where moisture loss can occur.

Can You Store Wet Hay Bales?

The moisture content of hay bales should be no higher than 20 percent. Hay that contains more moisture than this before it’s put into storage can increase the risk of fire through spontaneous combustion. While this may seem counterintuitive, wet hay bales are the perfect environment for microorganisms that decompose hay.

Just like compost layered into a compost pile, the decomposition process produces heat, which builds up and breaks down your hay over time. Temperatures inside stacked hay can reach well over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit. When that temperature hits 200 degrees Fahrenheit, the fire risk becomes extreme.

Always monitor the temperature of stored hay. As temperatures rise, you can take bales apart to allow better air circulation. Here are some more tips on reducing the risk of a hay fire.

Connect With Yanmar

At Yanmar, we’re here to help you get the most of your land, and your hay harvest. Have questions about hay baling attachments or other equipment? Connect with our expert team online or give us a call at 678-551-7369. Get more property and equipment management insights here.

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