Patience the Key to Curing Frosted Cereal Hay

Following some reports of frost damage to crops throughout areas of Australia, the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) is reminding growers considering hay as an option for frosted crops to make a sure their hay is properly cured to avoid haystack fires.

Areas effected by frosts include SA, WA, NSW and Victoria. With this set of circumstances we are seeing farmers consiodering options for cutting cereal crops for hay. If the call is made to cut there are a number of things to consider including access to hay making equipment or contractors and marketing options, but growers will also need to remember the basics on making hay. Once the decision is made to cut the crop get it done as soon as possible conserve as much of the nutritional quality in the hay as growers can. However once the crop is cut you need to be patient to ensure that hay is properly cured.

Achieving the correct curing before baling is important for the prevention of hay shed fires. If you have doubts of  moisture content of hay before baling  speak with your local agronomist or contractor. This discussion could mean the difference between making high qaulity hay or losing a stack to fire.

AFIA has put together some fact sheets for making hay from frost damaged crops. To find out more click the link below.

FachSheet.