Hay bale. (Photo courtesy © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Joss)Hay bale. (Photo courtesy © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Joss)
Chatham

High Moisture Hay Poses Danger

A well-known agronomist has a warning for area farmers who baled hay early in July.

Peter Johnson says a lot of hay in southwestern Ontario was baled to get ahead of rain forecast this week and it may not be dry enough.

"They cut it either Wednesday or Thursday (around Canada Day) but Sunday they could bale it dry and again the humidity and the moisture in the ground really slowing down that drying process," he says. "You have to monitor that very closely otherwise we are going to get into a whack of barnfires."

Johnson says a lot of farmers ended up bailing hay at moisture levels around 20% and it will still need to dry in order to be safe.

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