Sage-Tips

Are hay moisture testers accurate?

The most accurate moisture test is by weighing a hay sample, microwaving (drying) the sample, and weighing it again to derive the moisture content. It’s very accurate, but it only applies to THAT sample. Technology is wonderful but it doesn’t replace common sense.

How do you measure moisture content in hay?

Weigh the dry hay to determine the “dry weight.” Divide the dry weight by the wet weight, and convert to a percent number. Subtract this number from 100 to get your moisture content percentage.

What is the ideal moisture content of hay?

When hay is baled, it should not be higher than 18 to 22 percent moisture. At higher levels of moisture, bales lose large amounts of dry matter (Figure 1) caused by excessive heating and molding (Figure 2). In severe cases, spontaneous combustion is possible.

How do you check moisture in hay before baling?

Testing before Baling The easiest and most effective way to test hay for moisture is to use an electronic moisture tester. Note that readings are more accurate with higher volumes of hay. Therefore, the general rule is to fill a bucket with hay that is tightly compacted.

How do you calibrate a hay moisture tester?

CALIBRATION CHECK (RE-CALIBRATION)

1. Clean the probe tip. While holding the probe in the air, press and hold the 4 button.
2. Release the 4 button.
3. Firmly place the calibration clip on to the probe tip and then press and hold the 4 button.
4. The tester will now display 24.8\%, indicating that the unit is now calibrated.

Is raking hay necessary?

Finding the optimum dryness for your hay before raking is also of great importance. Raking hay into windrows too soon will prevent the underside from getting the exposure to air and sun that it needs. Furthermore, raking hay that is too damp when you plan to immediately bale it will result in moldy hay.

Does raking hay help it dry?

Raking tends to roll the wetter hay from the bottom of the swath to the outer surface of the windrow, which improves drying. Following the initial improvement, the increase in swath density can reduce drying rate, so the crop moisture content at raking is important.

Can hay be too dry to bale?

While hay with exceptionally low moisture might not be at risk of growing mold and bacteria, that’s because much of that hay’s nutritional value is already gone. When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off.

How dry is too dry for hay?

In some situations, eight to 15 percent moisture is much too dry; the leaf quality will be lost. Leaves will shatter when the hay is baled, and much of the leaf material will not end up in the bale (especially in small bales – you’ll end up with stemmy hay and few leaves).

Can hay get too dry to bale?

How long should hay dry before baling?

As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available.

Do moisture meters need to be calibrated?

One of the biggest concerns when taking moisture readings is making sure the meter is in calibration so that you get accurate readings. When a meter is not calibrated, you may get faulty results—and being just one or two percentage points off can have a significant impact on the quality of your work.

How does a pin-type moisture meter work?

Pin-type moisture meters use the principle of electrical resistance to measure the presence or absence of water in wood, drywall, hay, and other materials. When activated, electrical current travels down one electrode, through the material being tested, and into another electrode.

How do you test for moisture in a hay bale?

A farmer testing for moisture in a hay bale will need to use a moisture meter with an extended-length probe to get to the center of the bale. They’ll also need to remove the probe and reinsert it at different angles to ensure that they’re getting a thorough assessment of the hay’s moisture content.

What happens to old holes in a moisture meter?

Old holes oxidize and display a lower measured value. A capacitive/non-destructive moisture meter measures changes in the material’s capacitance which vary with the moisture content. The instrument emits a high frequency signal. The frequency of the electrical signal will vary due to the capacitance of the material.

What is the percentage reading on a moisture meter?

This is a relative scale. Moisture meters include visual LED indicators related to the percent reading on the scale for dry, moderate and saturated or wet readings. Additionally, some meters also offer a third scale for readings of gypsum. These scale readings can range from 0.2 to 50\% moisture content.