Hay Guru's switching gears!

[BryanM]

I have another question about when baling. Reading a farmex moisture reader! In the instructions it says grass hay might show high moisture content. How high is acceptable when baling? I have a 50/50 mix of hay. 50 grasses and 50 alfalfa and clover. What reading am I looking for tobe safe when baling?:confused2:

 

[flusher]

I have another question about when baling. Reading a farmex moisture reader! In the instructions it says grass hay might show high moisture content. How high is acceptable when baling? I have a 50/50 mix of hay. 50 grasses and 50 alfalfa and clover. What reading am I looking for tobe safe when baling?:confused2:

20% or less to be sure the hay won't turn moldy.

 

[zzvyb6]

My moisture meter shows a yellow zone between 17 and 20%, green below that. As I partly recall, there is a magic reading of moisture level for your fingers wrapped around the probe. That is a good way to check the calibration. (25% maybe?? Now I'll have to go look...).

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I like to see 16 to 18 and less but if it goes over 20 I quit.

 

[AKfish]

I didn't trust my meter last year after I read the "higher readings with grass hay" warning in the manual.

Was getting around 25%... those all got a nice dusty, white powder to 'em that would start the horses coughing after a couple of days. Horses liked the hay; so, I fed 'em 1/3 dusty and 2/3 good hay.

I believe the meter now - anything above 20% - stays in the field.

AKfish