Farmers all agree that proper hay storage results in cost and revenue savings. Because hay buildup in environments with high humidity can provide a fire risk. To avoid resource, yield, and revenue loss, it is crucial to check the moisture of the hay both before and after storage. Mold development is also less likely when hay is stored properly and is balanced with the right amount of moisture. Nutritional value and color. (hay moisture tester)
Hay that is too wet is an ideal growing environment for fungi due to the fact that these microbes multiply during storage. They have the ability to raise the grass’s temperature. Protein will start to deteriorate as the temperature rises, and hay may become indigestible. Spontaneous combustion is possible when temperatures surpass 80 °C (180 °F).
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to forecast humidity conditions. This is due to how dry the hay appears to be. Fortunately, there is a moisture meter that is intended particularly for testing rows of hay that are laid out to dry or before being stored in hay bales or crevices. This may assist you in getting precise moisture readings to safeguard your priceless crops.
Appropriate Moisture Levels for Hay
Instead of using points, measure the amount of moisture in the grass in increments. The moisture content of balls is often a little lower than that of square cubes. The straw’s variable electrical characteristics are a drawback in one way or another. Furthermore, for at least one variety of hay, it is challenging to appropriately depict moisture levels other than “normal” due to the roughness of the hay.
Without preservatives, the recommended moisture level ranges from 18 to 20 percent.
Follow the directions provided by the preservative manufacturer if you use them. It is ensured that bales surpass conventionally advised moisture values by using a hay moisture tester in combination with preservatives and drying agents.
Haying shouldn’t be done under any circumstances before the soil has achieved an adequate moisture level. In spite of the guard
Using a Hay Moisture Tester in the Windrow
Remove the straw from the window and put it in a five- or ten-gallon pail or another container to check for moisture. At high ambient concentrations, a multi-probe moisture analyzer offers exact measurements. Therefore, the straw should be gripped as firmly as possible before loading the goods.
Like a bale of hay, it takes multiple tests to achieve an exact reading. The operator should rebuild the straw, fill it with test material, and test it many more times before averaging the results. Several slow-drying big stems from the same soil surface are chosen for the experiment’s second step. They are each placed independently on a multi-tooth electrode at two nearby places just slightly above the real moisture level.
Repeat in several locations throughout the yard, giving close attention to any places where there are a lot of weeds. The discrepancy between the barrel reading and the average stem moisture content should be taken into account when deciding whether to begin baling.
Use of hay moisture tester on bales
Across petals, internal density and the stem-to-leaf ratio are frequently variable. As a result, it’s essential to check for lumps everywhere. When highly high readings are taken into consideration, it is crucial to evaluate the average and median readings of multiple cubes. Because site factors might also impact humidity and distortion levels, cubes are placed in various positions.
Results will be more accurate if communication is robust and consistent. As a result, the product needs to be forced through the cube fragments. (hay moisture tester)
Due to geographical features like changes in trench size, straw bales may accidentally break. Therefore, it is crucial to inspect knots in various garden regions due to factors including soil moisture, compaction, low places, and shadow.
Additional measures – temperature
If the initial reading reveals a sizable difference, you should run more tests whether you are evaluating hay in a tray or a bundle.
Although the moisture level may vary, unpacked hay with more than 20% moisture is a crucial step in safe storage. Humidity levels and other variables might alter readings. Whether the hay was stored indoors or outdoors, it is important to check the temperature, especially throughout the two to six-week exposure period. This additional safeguard is crucial.