Sage-Tips

Can a bail of hay spontaneously combust?

Plant reactions and bacterial growth combine to raise temperatures in even the driest hay bales, although most never catch fire on their own. However, when hay is packed tightly, and enough moisture gets in, the conditions may be right for spontaneous hay combustion.

How do you keep hay from catching fire?

Another way to reduce the risk of a hay fire is to ensure that stored hay remains dry.

1. When storing hay inside, make sure the barn or storage area is weathertight and has proper drainage to prevent water from entering the barn.
2. When storing hay outside, cover the hay with plastic or another type of waterproof material.

How hot is too hot for hay bales?

Temperature 160 degrees F — Reaching the danger zone. Temperature should be checked every two hours. If possible, stacked hay should be disassembled to allow more air to move around heated bales for cooling. Temperature 175 degrees F — Hot spots or fire pockets are likely.

Can bales of hay catch fire?

Fire can occur in loose hay, small bales, large bales or in stacks. The fires can occur in hay stored inside as well as in hay stored outside. Regardless of when or where the fires occur, the most common cause is excessive moisture. Freshly cut forage materials are not dead.

Does salting hay work?

[answer]The basic answer is yes, salt (sodium chloride) can be effective in inhibiting growth of mold organisms in hay. In earlier days, the practice was not uncommon for small rectangular bales.

How do you check the temperature of hay?

Any hay thermometer should be capable of reading temperatures up to at least 200° F. A simple glass thermometer can be used by attaching a string or thin wire and lowering or pushing it into a probe that has been inserted into the hay.

What temperature should hay be stored at?

Comfortable = 27-38°C. Tolerable = 38-55°C. Tolerable for a short time = 55-60°C.

What temperature does hay mold?

120°F to 130°F
“Hay bale temperatures of 120°F to 130°F will likely result in mold growth and will make the protein in the hay less available to animals,” Hartschuh says. While these temperatures will not cause fires, continued mold growth can raise temperatures to dangerous levels.

Should you stack hay bales on pallets or directly on floor?

Store Hay On Pallets Never store hay directly on the floor or the ground. Doing this restricts air from circulating beneath the hay. Moisture will seep up from the damp ground and ruin the entire bale. Concrete flooring sweats during the spring and fall, and that moisture will end up in your bales.

Why do you salt bales of hay?

Every farmers’ worst nightmare is to wake up to see their barn aflame due to a damp bale of hay. Sprinkling salt over bales of hay is a tradition some farmers have used for added assurance that the moisture is drawn out of their hay.

Why is spontaneous combustion bad for hay?

Spontaneous Combustion and Hay Fires. Lives have been lost and hay crops destroyed because of fires caused by spontaneous combustion. This year has been particularly bad for hay heating due to the hot humid weather. If the hay crop is put into the mow above 20-25\% moisture content, spontaneous combustion may occur.

What temperature is too hot for hay?

–At 185 degrees (85 degrees C) hot spots and pockets may be expected. Flames will likely develop when heating hay comes in contact with the air. 212 degrees (100 degrees C) is critical.

How much moisture should be in Hay?

hay moisture should generally be no higher than 16-18\%. likely heat and be musty or moldy. The interface between dry hay and wet hay is an ideal spot for spontaneous combustion. wet or green spot of hay in a mow or a large bale heats, moisture is driven into the surrounding dry hay.

Why is Hay flammable at high temperatures?

As the temperature rises above 130°F (55°C), a chemical reaction occurs and may sustain itself. This reaction does not require oxygen, but the flammable gases produced are at a temperature above their ignition point. These gases will ignite when they come in contact with the air. Check your hay regularly.