Start Date
2-24-1994 3:15 PM
Description
In some areas of the country, producers store a substantial portion of their forage for winter feeding as silage or haylage. However, hay remains the most popular storage method for forage. Hay stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage. Mechanical conditioning, which gained acceptance during the 1950's is probably still the greatest single change in hay harvesting and storage technology during this century. However, a number of other noteworthy changes and innovations have occurred in recent years which have helped to reduce the extent of losses during hay harvesting and storage.
Developments in hay harvesting technology in recent years include bale ventilators, chemical desiccants such as potassium carbonate, chemical and biological additives at the time of baling, and swatch and windrow management equipment such as tedders and windrow inverters.
Included in
Harvesting Hay for High Yield and Quality — More on Bale Ventilators and other Harvest Aids
In some areas of the country, producers store a substantial portion of their forage for winter feeding as silage or haylage. However, hay remains the most popular storage method for forage. Hay stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage. Mechanical conditioning, which gained acceptance during the 1950's is probably still the greatest single change in hay harvesting and storage technology during this century. However, a number of other noteworthy changes and innovations have occurred in recent years which have helped to reduce the extent of losses during hay harvesting and storage.
Developments in hay harvesting technology in recent years include bale ventilators, chemical desiccants such as potassium carbonate, chemical and biological additives at the time of baling, and swatch and windrow management equipment such as tedders and windrow inverters.