MOLDED HAY

[Chaos USMC]

This was my first year actually doing my own hay, learned a lot. Some good, some bad.

Have probably 80 bales of hay that I suspect were bailed before it was dried completely. Those bales are/were in various stages of developing mold. Some are black and others have light mold dust. Anyway, the wife will not use any of that particular hay for her goats, so, time to get rid of it. I have most of it gone thus far, breaking down the bales and scattering it into the tree-lines/fence-lines surrounding some of my fields. I also busted bales and made a fairly large compost pile (15'x15'x3'deep) figuring I can use it in the next few years for the garden, etc. Now I have roughly 20 bales left to get rid of. Just waiting on the rain to quit.

Has anyone else made an old hay compost pile? Any tricks? Anything that will hasten the decomposition of the hay in the compost? How long before one might expect some good compost? Should I make the pile any deeper/thicker? Anything I should add to the pile? (I have some left over lime from recently doing a couple of my fields, but, I hear lime is not good for compost)

What have you used old, moldy hay for?

Thanks.

 

[Roadworthy]

Of course you could use bales for archery target practice. The addition of nitrogen speeds composting, as does keeping it moist and turning the pile frequently. The "processed hay" the goats leave lying around will add nitrogen to your compost heap as will hair clippings from the local barber shop. Properly done you can begin to see compost in a couple of weeks. This magic is usually observed first at the bottom of the pile.

 

[LouNY]

It is a bit late to say but I would definitely recommend a respirator or an extremly good dust mask when handling moldy hay,
those spoors can get into your lungs easily.

As far as composting it keep it damp and any manure added to it will help.
If it cooks up hot enough it may kill some of the weed seeds in your hay.

 

[Trillium Farm]

We've all had moulding bales at one time or another, I had 11 ac of trefoil that was rained on and moulding, unless you have a depression that needs filling up I find the best way is to set fire to them and spread the ashes, which are good fertilizer. This is the most time effective way.

 

[Chaos USMC]

Thanks for the great input folks, appreciate the information and comments.

Should have thought about a mask sooner, I did do my best to stay downwind. Would be interesting to hear from anyone on TBN about any real world experience with the possible medical concerns and symptoms. Guess I will try to look it up.

Be safe and be well.

 

[Chaos USMC]

Here is a good read regarding "Farmers Lung", from mold spores of various types.

NASD - Farmer's Lung

 

[zzvyb6]

Hay has a lot of energy in it. When some of mine go bad, I burn it in an all metal garden cart and use it for heating me and tools. I keep stirring it so hardly any smoke develops. The smell is nice, too.

 

[PROFarms]

I’ve found this year with some bales that were baled perfectly but not stored quick enough the outside few layers of the bale have started to rot or go mouldy. Some have even started growing grass! Not the cattle are in for winter I’ve just been using those outside few rounds of the bale and chucking it in for bedding for them to bulk out straw - we are very short of straw this year so actually is helping out quite a lot! Think by the end of the winter we will probably be bedding with entirely hay anyway as we have so much of it and so little straw!!

From previous experience keep the compost heap moving and keep it damp! I know people who have emptied 1000L tanks onto their broken up hay bales and just chucked a few wheelbarrow loads of already rotten manure/compost on it just to help it get going quicker. Once it starts to go it should heat up and go quite quickly

 

[5030]

Moldy rounds make nice deterrents for my neighbors attitudes toward me spreading manure I wait for the wind to be blowing the right way and light off a nasty bale. They get the hint pretty quick. Hard to beat a nice damp moldy round for stink value.

 

[zzvyb6]

Moldy rounds make nice deterrents for my neighbors attitudes toward me spreading manure I wait for the wind to be blowing the right way and light off a nasty bale. They get the hint pretty quick. Hard to beat a nice damp moldy round for stink value.

Hay + manure burns with a subtle, inquisitive, alluring and sensuous smell that stimulates the old factories. Kinda like burning cork. I recommend it for all attempts at displeasing, warning, and terrorizing your ungrateful neighbors. The smoke alone is a richly rewarding and satisfying presence (in the right wind direction, of course !). Adding some diesel, old roofing shingles and some plastic gives it an additional aroma not commonly appreciated by the many. An old tire carcass can provide a truly 5G communication experience, too.