I Know, I know ....

[Southernspeed]

You've told me before "don't second guess yourself" but I did I baled at 13-14% windrow then when I got it in the barn, well I just had to probe it and 22-26%. OK, no problem, it's doing it's thing. Temps were 108-112, warm but it was a real feel of 112 today and crazy humid. Two hours later I'm at 30-40% and 115-120 degrees. It's 8.30pm now, I'll check it in a couple of hours. Am I panicking unnecessarily or should I get it out of the barn? I'm assuming this humid hot weather isn't helping.
I wish I had the confidence to just bale and forget about it like I did when I first started doing hay!

 

[Saucymynx]

It’s hard to tell. I think Windrow moisture readings are notoriously inaccurate.. I would definitely be uncomfortable having hay at 22 to 26% moisture in my barn if it was not sprayed with proprionic acid. That being said, those moisturizes and temperature risers are way too fast. Are you sure your Provis calibrated right? If you really wanna know the true moisture content, do the microwave test. But don’t burn your house down. This is a good article. When is Hay Dry Enough? | Panhandle Agriculture

 

[Lineman North Florida]

22-26% wouldn't concern me about burning my barn down but I probably would be storing it outside since it's not likely to be #1 horse hay, just gonna be cow hay, but cows got to eat to.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Is it still on a wagon in the barn or off-loaded and stacked?

 

[Southernspeed]

Is it still on a wagon in the barn or off-loaded and stacked?

It's all laid out on pallets, separated, not stacked.

 

[Southernspeed]

I'm wondering if my probe isn't reading right. I used to twist test, bale, stack in the barn then sell it. Our horse customers loved it and we have one lady that breeds champion cattle that's buys all we can supply her as her cows eat every last bit, no waste.
Then I started 'reading on the net' about moisture testing so I bought a windrow tester and a probe. Now I twist test, windrow test (usually reads 13-14%), bale, probe a few hours later after gathering from fields getting readings of 20 something to 30 odd % and temps of 100-120 degrees, panic.
I know that once baled it's going to do it's thing and will heat up which I presume would also create moisture. It also was 112 degrees and very humid when I baled which probably didn't help.
Maybe I should just go back to twist test, bale, forget about it!

 

[CH4Ohio]

I don’t worry about bales that are separated and on pallets where air can circulate. Don’t think the heat can build up. Just my opinion.

 

[CH4Ohio]

What does your tester read when you probe a bone-dry bale that’s been in the barn for a long time. Do you get reasonable readings on known dry bales? Same with temperature — does it read ambient actual temp when not in a bale or in a DRY bale?

Edit — mine reads 14.5% on completely dry bales that have been stored for months.

I do better when I don’t use my moisture tester too. Just causes worry. But I was testing some the other day with readings of 22% to 15%. Didn’t feel at all wet and didn’t heat up at all. I’m leaving it on the wagon for now and checking it, but it seems like really nice hay. (Other than the damn moisture tester reading.)

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I'm wondering if my probe isn't reading right. I used to twist test, bale, stack in the barn then sell it. Our horse customers loved it and we have one lady that breeds champion cattle that's buys all we can supply her as her cows eat every last bit, no waste.
Then I started 'reading on the net' about moisture testing so I bought a windrow tester and a probe. Now I twist test, windrow test (usually reads 13-14%), bale, probe a few hours later after gathering from fields getting readings of 20 something to 30 odd % and temps of 100-120 degrees, panic.
I know that once baled it's going to do it's thing and will heat up which I presume would also create moisture. It also was 112 degrees and very humid when I baled which probably didn't help.
Maybe I should just go back to twist test, bale, forget about it!

Instead of windrow testing why don't you roll one and probe the bale right after it comes out of the roller, I'm not trying to be a know it all , just curious.

 

[CalG]

Well?

Smoke or fire?

Curious.......