How tall are hay bales

In addition to promoting airflow, some folks say this approach reduces issues with rodents chewing through baling twine. Walking across bales is a necessity when stacking more than five or six layers high. So I favor the flat-stacked approach for the firmer footing it provides. The length of each bale will affect your stack. Why is bale length important? Two of the inch short ends, stacked side-by-side, will match the inch long end of bales in adjacent layers. To promote airflow, a slightly more open stack can be beneficial.

For very large stacks, this approach could potentially decrease stability. And the benefits gained from improved airflow are certainly worth pursuing. Read more: Should you measure hay by the bale or by volume? Stacking against support walls can be helpful. Building a square stack is the key to maintaining stability as the height increases. But this is easier said than done.

Adding one whole layer at a time can help, especially if you construct the outer perimeter of the layer first. There are a number of actual construction considerations to also be considered. First, give thought to the right flooring. Pallets are often used in order to allow the floor and bales to breathe; however, they do require more labor, Hayes noted.

She suggested an elevated gravel pad for flooring as a means to preserve bottom-bale quality and also emphasized that bales not be allowed to lean against the walls in the barn. If building an open-sided barn, Hayes reminded farmers to consider wind loads that can lift posts. She suggested to set posts at least 4 feet in the ground with a concrete anchor at the base of the post.

For open-front, tall, or wide barns, place posts at least 5 feet deep. Moisture accumulation during the initial storage period can be a problem with barns that are completely sealed on all sides. Also, where temperature swings occur, condensation on metal roofs and sidewalls is likely to be a problem in a fully enclosed barn. Barns that are less than 70 feet long can potentially be ventilated through the open end walls.

For larger barns, structures need openings at the eaves and at the bottom of the sidewalls. Differences in government policies and climate make Progressive Dairy — Canada useful to subscribers up north. The magazine is published monthly with a sizeable portion of articles unique to Canadians.

Progressive Cattle magazine captures the essence of the cattle producer and ranching experience. This monthly publication is tailored for all segments of the beef industry and will consistently provide compelling features and photography, timely news, expert industry voices and entertaining commentary. All Rights Reserved. From Progressive Publishing:. Progressive Dairy: U. Twitter Facebook. Related Farm Machinery Digest: Testing your diagnostic skills - Transmission Equipment Hub: Maximizing the value of manure management Double-bale spear for the all-around cowboy.

A mini-round bale generally weighs 40 to 55 pounds and can be easily lifted by one person. Photo by Robert Fears. Photo by Lynn Jaynes. A bit more fun Fall is looming and with it comes the end of the long days of summer and the Well, here in the Southeast means USDA offers online tool for drought-stricken ranchers An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments Growth in ag tractor, combine sales continues to outpace in North America Overall unit sales of both ag tractors and combines continue their growth above Grow better hay, silage or pasture.

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