windrow moisture %%%%%

[xcsp]

hello I am new using a moisture tester and what is the best % moisture content to bail when testing a windrow. will this give you a accurate moisture content in the windrow???

I am trying to get some hay baled before the rain hits in Ohio again

thanks Greg

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Take a bunch of hay from the windrow, twist it and while under tension fold it over so it makes a tight knot where it is folded, put the tip of the prope in the knot and take the reading from there. If it is around 15% you are fine, if it is 18% you can still bale but I prefer 15% (these numbers are what I use from a Farmex tester).

Another option others have used is to take a small length of 4" pvc pipe and stuff a bunch of hay in it then take the reading from inside the pipe. The main thing you want to do is to make the sample as similar in density to a bale of hay as possible. And take a few readings from thruout the field, pull the sample from the bottom of the windrow.

Best of luck to you.

 

[xcsp]

Thanks Robert for the information ,I want to make sure it is right before I bale, I teddered the hay last night ,the weather is going to be in the high 80"s today so I am going to put in windrow this afternoon and try to get a accurate reading.

And hopefully I can get some of my fields done before the rain hits
I have another field of timothy/alphalpha to harvest but I am waiting for a stretch of no rain in the forecast which seems to be not easy this summer

thanks
greg