Bale Placement Place bales on a well-drained location. A well-drained four- to six-inch coarse rock base will minimize bottom spoilage. The cost to put down a rock base is approximately $1.11 per bale (figuring a three-year life). If the bales are taken off the rock during cold weather, the rock's usefulness can be extended for perhaps two years. Plastic twine should be considered if the bale is to be stored for more than one season.
Orient the bales parallel to the direction of the prevailing winds. This will allow the wind to blow snow past the bales to minimize drifting and the resulting moisture soaking into the bales. Put the stem-down side of the bale to the north side of the line. The stem-down side tends to shed rain and snow better than the stem-up side. Oriented in this manner, the stem-up side will receive more sun to provide additional drying to lessen spoilage. Stacking large round bales usually increases storage losses.
| Table 10. Spoilage Loss From Larger Round Hay Bales. | |
|---|---|
| Inches of Spoilage | Percentage of Bale Spoilage |
| 2" | 12% |
| 4" | 23% |
| 6" | 33% |
| 8" | 43% |
| 10" | 51% |
Moisture penetrates the bale on its periphery with most accumulation on the bottom. Ohio researchers (Reeder et al., 1997) concluded that effective long-term storage of round bales in humid areas required that the hay be kept off the ground and placed on a surface that allows moisture to escape and provides good aeration. An inexpensive solution that may reduce loss from approximately 25% of the dry matter yield down to 16-18% is to break soil/bale contact by elevating bales on crushed rock, poles, pallets, or some other means of providing air space between the bottom of each bale and the soil surface (Collins, 1997). Elevation is not necessary for bales covered in solid plastic since the plastic layer provides a barrier against moisture movement from the soil. Kentucky research suggested that elevation would be beneficial for net-wrapped bales.
If bales are to be marketed or stored for more than one season, indoor storage or bale covers should be considered. Studies have shown outdoor storage losses range between 5 and 35%. Storage losses are usually reduced by approximately two-thirds with indoor storage and by one-half with good plastic covering outdoors. The outer four inches of a six-ft. diameter round bale contains about 25% of the total bale volume. (Think of it as throwing away 25 acres of hay for every 100 acres you bale.)
Plastic can be cut into 25- to 30-feet-wide sections and overlapping each 12 to 18 inches at the joint. Plastic will require rope strung over the top every three feet or so and staked or weighted down with old tires. The cost is approximately 50 cents per bale for plastic cover with a two-year life. Early removal and careful handling of plastic before freezing weather can lengthen the useful life of the plastic. If storing in bags, be sure to cut down the size of bale slightly.
Researchers at Missouri have used melted food-grade beef tallow. Approximately 13 pounds of tallow is melted and sprayed or poured over each bale and allowed to infiltrate into the outer three to Four inches of the bale. Initial tests have indicated that the tallow will remain on the bales through the summer regardless of rainfall. Quality hay was found beneath the outer one-inch layer at the end of the summer. The cost of coating hay with tallow was $3 per bale.
Research initiated by Jim Barrett, Ohio State University Extension, at the Eastern Ohio Resource Development Center, involves the use of by-product lime from water treatment plants as a bale cover. When moistened, the lime hardens and may provide a cover or perhaps an outdoor floor for bales. The lime is approved for agriculture uses.