Methods of Stacking Baled Hay

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 73, Issue 6, 16 December 1946, Page 533

Methods of Stacking Baled Hay

By

K. A. SWINDELLS,

Assistant; Fields Instructor,

Whangar

-VUTITH the double incentives of a serious world food shortage and the disastrous effects of last season’s drought on primary production in this country, all farmers must make sure that they de t all in their power to prevent stock going hungry next winter. During this season not only must more supplementary food be saved, but losses and waste of good foodstuffs must be avoided. By efficient harvesting, baling, and stacking of hay farmers can assist themselves and further, the drive for increased production. ■

l-JAY is one of the most convenient of supplementary stock foods. It is produced from raw material present on the farm; in favourable weather it is easy to make; when pressed into bales it is simple to feed out, and it will keep for . several seasons. Though haymaking .is a somewhat wasteful method of conserving grass, hay is a major constituent of the Dominion’s supplementary foods, and a surplus is an asset to any farm, as the experience of this year’s drought has shown.

Practice has taught farmers a lot about the making of hay, and with favourable weather and the information now • available there is no excuse for making an inferior product. Well-managed pastures containing a dominance of species of the highest nutritive value, if cut for hay at the early flowering stage and carefully

cured without being baked in the sun or allowed to become sodden, will produce the best hay.

Hay to be baled requires just as much attention in the making and curing as hay to be stacked loose. With lucerne hay or hay -with a high clover content proper curing before baling is even more essential. If the weather is settled, it is advisable where a pick-up press is used to leave the bales in the paddock. for a day in small stacks or stocks of four bales, placed on end and leaning together at the top. - More thorough drying out occurs, thus ensuring that., the. stack does not heat- or become mouldy.

Advantages of Baling

Every year Targe quantities of . hay-are spoiled by bad stacking or careless covering. Baling, together with reasonable precautions in storing, will reduce this loss to. a minimum and ensure better feeding and more accurate rationing, The hay is more convenient to handle or store, and the task , of feeding out during the winter is made lighter. Any increase .in. harvesting costs may be offset by the advantages obtained. . * '

. The stacking of loose hay is an art; a skilled person is needed to ensure that the job is done well. When stacking baled hay the necessity for good work is often given insufficient consideration, and unsuspected difficulties are encountered. These can be avoided by a little extra' care and time spent in methodical building.

It cannot be too strongly emphasised that extreme care is necessary when pressing hay. The even feeding of hay into the press and the turning out of bales of equal length ensure that as far as »is practicable all bales are of fairly even compactness. A solid or neat

stack cannot be. built from bales c” irregular length, and loose bales will collapse under the stack’s weight. ' .

Site and Foundation

A level, well-drained site, sheltered from the prevailing wind, is preferable for the stack.' By avoiding a site which permits the creation of muddy conditions round the stack the work of feeding out will be ;made easier.

To avoid building directly on the ground a good base of logs laid down with a level surface enables the .first layer of bales to be built to form a firm foundation for , the: remainder of the stack. If no . logs are available, use the next best materialold hay, broken branches, or even pieces of scrap iron. By keeping the hay off the ground the bottom bales are prevented from becoming mouldy and the baling ■ wire from rusting, both of which occur from contact with damp soil. Furthermore, the resulting * air space will allow a draught under the hay, preventing, overheating .and thus keeping the bottom bales sound. *

If the stack is to be rectangular, lay out ,the site so that the end of the stack faces the prevailing wind.

Size and Shape

The size of the stack to be built can be calculated from the fact that 1 ton of hay in _ bales occupies about ■ 250 cubic feet, depending on the material from which it is made. Taking 1| tons an acre as .an average yield, an 8-acre paddock would produce 12 tons of hay,' requiring a stack approximately 12ft. wide, 21ft. long, and 12ft. high. The size of stack required for any paddock can be calculated by a modification of these figures, remembering that they are approximate' and will vary with local conditions. .

Only rectangular or square stacks are possible. A square stack is suitable when the number of bales is limited, but a rectangular stack gives better results when storing large quantities of hay.''*

Building the Stack

Before starting it is advisable to plan the type of stack and the details of placing the bales in the stack. Certain' general rules .apply. No matter what final shape the stack is to be, each layer -should be built so 'that it locks the preceding layer of bales into place to ensure solidarity.

Where possible and consistent with building a secure stack, place the ends of the bales to the outside; the ends let in least water. If all bales are placed with their flat sides down, a better run-off of rain water, less exposure of wires or twine,'and more efficient stacking are obtained. Solid, even-sized bales in the bottom layer ensure a solid foundation for the rest of the stack.

As building proceeds keep a constant watch to see that the walls' are closely interlocked and perpendicular. Internal air spaces are provided by taking advantage of irregularities in the sizes and shapes of the bales. This ventilation will lessen chances of i the stack heating unduly or perhaps catching fire.

Loader Attachment for Baler

When a stationary baler is being used much heavy lifting can be saved by the use of a chute to. transfer the bales from the baler to a nearby stack or lorry. This device,, working in a somewhat similar manner .to a conveyor or elevator, relies on each bale as .it. comes out’ of the‘press forcing the preceding bales along the chute in a continuous line. • ' '

It is made about 18ft. long, with sides Bin. high, and is hinged to the

bottom of the. press ’so that . as. the stack grows higher it can be lifted up another layer, to a' height of 8 bales. As the boards used in the press travel with the bales ,up the . loader to the stack, a number of extra division boards will be needed when using the loader.

Topping and Covering

The -first essential in topping' the stack is ‘to cover .the roof of bales with a high capping of loose hay. Build the hay so that it will, turn the water.. If difficulty is experienced in keeping the hay in place, peg it down. This layer should be made secure and covered by one of the following methods, depending on the materials available:—/ 1. Sacking: A sack cover can/ be made by cutting open manure sacks and sewing them together. It should be placed on- the stack so, that most of the loose hay is covered and carefully weighted to prevent' the wind from lifting it off or tearing it. A sack cover will last longer if thoroughly, soaked in al per/ cent, bluestone solution. '

2. Wire Netting: . Strips of wire netting, wired together and weighted down, ■ passing over the apex of the roof and covering the loose hay lopping make a . satisfactory, finish. The netting has a thatching effect, holding the loose hay in place and pressing it together to form a waterproof layer.

3. Corrugated Iron: Covering with corrugated iron, if sufficient is available, is another way of keeping water out tof a stack. Various methods are adopted, but it. is essential to ensure that a water-shedding cover is. made; that ventilation is left between , the top of the hay and the under surface of the cover to prevent sweating and rusting of the iron; and, above all, that it • is securely fastened and weighted down to obviate lifting by strong winds. A simple way of using corrugated iron is to leave the top of the stack flat. The iron is nailed to lengths of 3in. by 2in. wood to keep it in place, and the cover weighted. A waterproof, lean-to roof is thus made, fall being provided by placing an extra layer of bales to raise one edge of the iron.

4. Thatching: Thatching is most satisfactory for a very steep roof, and the pegs used will help, to keep, the hay capping- in place. It is a painstaking job, but if the materials are. handy on the farm, and the work is done properly, it is worth the trouble. .

Shed or Barn Best

Though efficient stacking and covering of baled hay are necessary, no method of storing is better than stacking it in a shed or barn. Sheds erected at convenient places on the farm are not only a great asset but offer the ideal way to stack and store baled hay.