Hay Making August 2021

Hay Making

August 2021 20-page feature

Going bigger to meet demand Adam Whipp runs AW Ag Contracting out of Nanneella.

He travels as far as Deniliquin and most of his clients are dairy and beef farmers who need to secure a year’s worth of feed in a matter of weeks. This means the machines keep getting bigger. Story, pages 20-22.

20 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

Expanding

By Daneka Hill

L

Adam Whipp with a Degelman silage blade. Powerful tractors with plenty of grip are needed to do silage rolling work — something his brand new John Deere 9470r and old but persistent Case IH STX 450 quadtrac are perfect for.

ast spring a massive forage harvester arrived at Echuca CIH. The plan was to use it as a demo machine, but the dealership couldn’t even get fingerprints on the glass before it was sold to a Nanneella contractor.

Adam Whipp from AW Ag Contracting can remember the exact date he got the Krone Big X 780.

“September 15. It was meant to be a demo, but I saw the opportunity and bought it,” Mr Whipp said.

“Unfortunately I’d gotten it just a bit too late. The season was already booked in, so I couldn’t take on more work, but this season will be different.”

Mr Whipp said the shorter and shorter silage window and increasing demand for highdensity hay meant contractors like him were under pressure to expand.

He has also been affected by contractors coming in from outside the area door-knocking and undercutting his prices.

“People need to stand by their local guys if they want us to be here,” Mr Whipp said.

“The people who come in from

outside the area don’t have a reputation to maintain. They come in, usually cock up the job anyway, brag about doing 35-hour shifts, don’t know the road rules — some of these crews can be pretty dangerous.”

But the shorter seasons and increasing reliance on fodder in Australia means silage and hay contracting is an inviting industry for cowboy operators — which is why Mr Whipp has fronted the money and expanded his operations.

“Normally we do the same people every year, no new clients, but now we’re going to be taking on more farmers because we’ve got this highdensity chopper,” Mr Whipp said.

“This is the best chopper on the market. People will say the Claas one is better, but I believe the Krone is best.”

Mr Whipp has been making hay since he was 15 years old and chopping silage for over a decade.

“It’s definitely changing.

Farmers want you to take care of it all now, they are too busy doing their own jobs,” Mr Whipp said.

■ Continued on page 21

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Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 21

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haymaking

operations ■ From page 20

“Plus, after all the drought people built hay sheds and started trucking hay ridiculous kilometres, so it’s all highdensity squares because people want to get as much on the trucks as possible.”

Mr Whipp said he had definitely seen a decline in round bales across his area, which extended from Deniliquin and Cohuna back to Nanneella.

His hay equipment includes a John Deere 469 Premium round baler and Krone Big Pack 1290 HDP II — another high-density purchase.

“This season I’m working with a mate who just bought his second high-density machine, so it’s going to be three HDs,” Mr Whipp said.

“In a season I will employ 15 to 20 guys, nearly all of them retired truck drivers and farmers themselves.”

When asked how many machines he had, Mr Whipp couldn’t actually give a number.

“Does ‘heaps’ work? They aren’t all here today, they are almost never in the one spot.”

Another recent purchase is a 9470r tractor and new silage trailers.

“The tractor I got in March, it’s

great for rolling silage,” Mr Whipp said.

The Nanneella contractor is well aware of the current machinery shortage, despite his own success securing harvesters and tractors.

“The shortage is really hitting bad now. All those pre-orders are coming through and you can’t get a spot on the ships,” he said.

“Because the factories shut down there is a constant backlog. It’s going to be another five years until this is all over.”

In the meantime, it helps to be with a good dealership. Mr Whipp is a devoted Echuca CIH client — not only because it got him a brand new forage harvester in the middle of the 2020 silage season, but because of the service.

“I can call them and they’ll be out here in an hour,” he said.

“They are just awesome. They don’t have that dealership arrogance and the service is unreal. They are good, genuine blokes.

“This Krone chopper, for example, was the first one they’d ever had and they made sure everything went right. They went to massive lengths to do their research.”

Mr Whipp has run this Case IH STX 450 quadtrac for eight years.

Features on the Krone Big X include variable chop length, sensors to keep track of tonnage and yield mapping.

“That’s all helpful, especially when you're charging by the tonne and farmers like to know what they are yielding,” Mr Whipp said.

“It’s got a four-drum feeder and it just holds the material better. The feeder is variable speed, if you hit a big lump it will adjust rather than dragging the arse.”

With nearly one year of Krone Big X ownership under his belt, Mr Whipp is confident the

machine will handle a flat-out spring.

“We do maize with it, too, and it’s great on that. If the maize is drier in parts it senses it and adjusts the chop length, so you get ideal compaction, no fluffy bits.”

■ More pictures, page 22

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22 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking ■ From page 21

A Kelly Diamond 40 harrow with disc chains fills the AW Ag Contracting shed yards.

The Krone Big X 780 forage harvester is packed with tech, which drew Mr Whipp to the machine. ‘‘It’s got 4WD, variable chop length, sensors on it to keep track of tonnage and yield mapping . . . this is the best chopper on the market,’’ he says.

A John Deere s680 combine harvester nearly dwarfs the shed.

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24 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

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he new financial year has seen a continuation of the outstanding growth in tractor sales across the country, with July recording a 19 per cent increase on the same month last year, according to a recent Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia report.

TMA executive director Gary Northover said activity was showing no signs of abating as the Federal Government’s temporary Full Expensing Program replaced the Instant Asset Write Off program, giving buyers the ability to write the entire value of their purchase off against this year’s profit compared to the $150,000 limit in place at the moment.

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machine now becoming apparent,” Mr Northover said.

“Against this backdrop, reports from across the country are indicating an outstanding season ahead with abundant rain falling in most regions. ‘‘A more detailed look at the numbers reveals that all states have reported increases on the previous July, with NSW leading the pack up 28 per cent as the restocking of business in that state continues.

Victoria was up 11 per cent and Queensland enjoyed a 16 per cent rise for the month.”

Sales in Western Australia rose eight per cent, South Australia reported a 25 per cent increase for the month and Tasmania finished 19 per cent ahead. Sales into the Northern Territory enjoyed an 11 per cent rise.

All performancereporting categories had

strong rises for the year with the exception of the under 40 hp (30 kW) range down 17 per cent in July due largely to stock shortages.

The 40 to 100 hp (30-75 kW) range was again up strongly, 20 per cent in the month, the 100 to 200 hp (75-150 kW) category was up 36 per cent.

The large 200 hp (150 kW) plus range had another strong rise, up 138 per cent on what was a very quiet July last year.

“This category has been steadily rising as the market prepares for another bumper harvest season and buyers take advantage of the Temporary Full Expensing program to advance their fleet replacement programs,” Mr Northover said.

■ Continued on page 25

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haymaking Baler sales continue to be solid across the country, because of a number of factors.

■ From page 24

“Sales of combine harvesters have been staging a steady recovery over the past year and dealers are reporting strong demand, which should be

realised over the coming months leading to harvest. Forecasts are for a return to the 80-plus unit sales levels not seen for a year or two.”

Baler sales were solid in July,

up 27 per cent, and sales of outfront mowers have started the year strongly recording an 11 per cent rise.

“As we have been highlighting for some months now, the

industry is coping with a range of extremes on the supply side at present,” Mr Northover said.

“Machine deliveries continue to be pushed out, particularly in the smaller ranges, and price

rises for raw materials are beginning to impact the finished product. New challenges continue to emerge, with items ranging from computer chips to tyres now having an impact.”

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haymaking

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Independent research and extension company Cesar Australia is calling on growers and advisers to share their experience dealing with the red-legged earth mite to guide future management of this pest by completing a short survey.

The information gathered from this survey will help to update management recommendations, improving the best management practice advice and resistance management strategies for red-legged earth mite.

Since these discoveries, resistant populations have been detected in new regions, including in South Australia and in 2019 in Victoria to organophosphates.

Further, there is significant concern regarding the potential for neonicotinoid resistance to evolve in this pest given the high selection pressures from widespread use of seed dressings in grain crops.

While luckily there have been no recorded cases of neonicotinoid resistance for red-legged earth mite so far, the importance of this insecticide in control of mites (and other key grain pests) should spur caution towards practices that could drive neonicotinoid resistance evolving in the future.

Control of red-legged earth mite is complicated by increasing resistance issues to key chemicals in Australian populations of the mite.

There are five chemical groups registered for use against red-legged earth mite in Australian grain crops: organophosphates (Group 1B), fiproles (Group 2B), synthetic pyrethroids (Group 3A), neonicotinoids (Group 4A) and diafenthiuron (Group 12A).

Of these, growers rely heavily on organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids and neonicotinoids.

These chemicals are often applied prophylactically to safeguard against damaging infestations, creating strong selection pressures and driving the evolution of resistance.

Resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in red-legged earth mites was first detected in Western Australia in 2006, followed by the detection of organophosphate resistance in the state in 2014.

Participation in this latest survey is voluntary and should take less than 10 minutes. Participants also receive early access to Cesar Australia’s RLEM online training modules.

The initial training module covers: ■ red-legged earth mite and other pest mite identification; ■ red-legged earth mite distribution and reporting; and ■ host preferences and damage characteristics.

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Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 27

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haymaking

Promising hay season on horizon

By Geoff Adams

W

ith good rain during winter and the forecast of higher-than-average falls in spring, northern Victoria farmers may be well placed to capitalise on conditions with a good hay season.

Rising reservoir levels have also pushed down the price of temporary water, so anyone growing fodder will be able to give the spring pastures a boost.

But a wetter spring will make timing crucial in getting hay properly cured before it is baled.

Agriculture Victoria dairy extension officer Sarah Clack said the season got off to a false start with an early break in March that never developed.

The false break meant that some broadacre crops struggled to get established while some irrigators delivered water to top up the meagre rainfall.

Ms Clack said the real break arrived in May and was followed by good rainfall in June and July.

The better winter rains

and the prospect of good spring rains (and fewer frosts with milder temperatures) meant that fewer cereal crops were likely to be converted to hay this season.

Agriculture Victoria’s 12 climate models were predicting a slightly wetter and warmer spring.

But more rain also means timing for haymaking is crucial.

“More rain means that curing of hay and silage can take longer. So farmers need to be aware of the weather forecasts so they can time their cutting and hay-making appropriately.”

To capture the maximum energy and protein from the grass, timely conditioning and tedding would hasten the curing process.

“It’s a good idea to ensure that hay reaches an 85 per cent dry matter level before it goes into the haystack, otherwise you risk a fire,” Ms Clack said.

“It’s also worth checking that insurance is up-todate so that your hay is covered.”

Lower water prices mean more fodder producers will be applying irrigation water to boost crop growth.

Ms Clack said farmers would be considering the expected dry matter yield per megalitre to work out the agronomic needs of the crop.

“Judging the right timing is important; so by monitoring weather forecasts you can make sure that the paddocks will remain trafficable. You don’t want to get mud in the hay, or particularly with silage as that could spoil it.”

Agricultural scientist Kate Burke said dairy farmers could make the most of a good season by conserving fodder.

While hay prices may be subdued due to the flat overseas market, there was an opportunity to fill the haysheds following a good spring and with cheaper water prices.

“The only risk for fodder producers may be trying to find a good market for it, if they are trying to sell,” Dr Burke said.

‘‘Good winter rains have followed a false autumn break,’’ Agriculture Victoria dairy extension officer Sarah Clack says.

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28 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

Good machines make job easy T

Trevor Phillips and his equally tractor-mad mate Snow. Mr Phillips is an independent hay contractor for part of the year and a Dookie farm worker for the rest.

By Daneka Hill

revor Phillips picked up hay contracting because of a mudbrick house.

“I started building the house in my 20s; I went contracting to pay for the house and, well, we’re still here,” the Molyullah man said.

“I’ve been contracting for over 25 years now. My father did it as a boy and I suppose I got the bad habit from him.”

Mr Phillips runs three round balers, three square balers, owns six different tractors and employs up to three staff while hay and silage season is under way.

“I travel in an 80 km radius from Benalla . . .

I’ve seen the contracting business change so much,” he said.

“You don’t need to know that much about your machines anymore. They run themselves and tell you what’s wrong with them.”

Mr Phillips said hay contracting clients were slowly changing.

“We do a lot of small hobby farms now, and the big farmers are getting older too. They are happy to say ‘do the whole thing and invoice me’, they can’t stand the trouble anymore,” he said.

“Then you have the lifestyle people. I fit the small clients in when I’m going past between the big jobs.”

Mr Phillips’ choice of poison is the Fendt — he owns five of the German tractors. “I find I don’t spend much time worrying about them, they just work,” he said.

“I get them through Bertoli (Shepparton). I’ve also got the one Renault.”

The tractors have 55 km/h gearboxes which makes them perfect for zipping around the Benalla area.

“We used to truck the machinery, but by the time you get it up, strap it down,

shift it, unstrap it, it was nearly as quick just to drive the tractor over,” Mr Phillips said.

In a normal hay season Mr Phillips starts Thoona way, hits the valley and mows it all down before circling back to bale everything.

He said the preference for square vs round baling was different either side of Hume Fwy. “They are not so much interested in squares this side (eastern) side of the highway. It is more trouble to dry it over here.”

Mr Phillips said anyone looking to hire a contractor shouldn’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask questions.

“I think every contractor would give them some advice. I might spend a day driving around looking at the fields and giving advice — what needs more time, what has too much weed in it to make good stuff with,” he said.

■ Continued on page 29

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Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 29

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haymaking

Mr Phillips’ largest baler is this New Holland BigBaler which produces massive squares.

■ From page 28

This year’s hay season has the potential to be an interesting one, according to Mr Phillips.

“When we’ve been through canola spreading urea, you could see these perfect holes in the crop, and in the centre would be a mouse hole. There is some damage (from rodents) but they’ve really slowed down in July with the cold,” he said.

“This season is going to be all about the weather and how quickly we can dry it. In saying that, we’re getting so good at understanding moisture these day in terms of using inoculants and rakes.”

One of Mr Phillips’ newest Fendts with a front-end loader attachment.

A New Holland BB940 square baler makes a pretty picture in Mr Phillips’ shed.

A Fendt 922 Vario tractor used by Mr Phillips. These machines are run by a 4V intercooled turbocharged diesel six-cylinder 24-valve liquid-cooled engine, which delivers 190 hp power at rated rpm 2200.

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30 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

Feed Central webinar A

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ustralia’s best hay makers will be recognised during a Feed Central webinar on August 19 that will also provide a 2021-22 market outlook for the fodder industry.

The Pre-Season Update and Hay Quality Awards webinar starts at noon Queensland time and will also include market activity updates on dairies, backgrounders, breeders, beef and feedlots.

Australian Fodder Industry Association's chief executive officer Paula Fitzgerald will provide an industry update and Feed Central’s new QA system upgrade will be outlined.

People can register for the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_4B 3mRy18S3e0hfiJQhQp4Q Feed Central general manager Cieran Maxwell said the national hay quality awards for the 2020-21 season would recognise growers who aimed to produce quality hay.

“They help to set a benchmark of quality that will improve the consistency of hay in Australia, leading to better

The Feed Central National Hay Quality competition is the only competition in Australia based on commercial lots of large square and round bales that are genuinely for sale.

returns for suppliers and better outcomes for end users,” Mr Maxwell said.

The Feed Central National Hay Quality competition is the only competition in Australia based on commercial lots of large square and round bales that are genuinely for sale.

State awards will be presented to Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia producers and the best will receive national titles.

The awards cover feed test analysis and best visual appearance scores in lucerne, wheaten, vetch and barley hay.

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Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 31

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haymaking

Deutz-Fahr ahead of the rest G

oulburn Valley Ag’s Christian Barnett and his team are suppling plenty of the Deutz-Fahr 6 Series to farmers in the region.

It is of no surprise to him that the reputation of the German manufacturer continues to grow.

“I’ve had the benefit of touring the Deutz-Fahr factory in Germany,” he said.

“It’s a remarkable facility, superbly outfitted with worldclass technology. You just know that customers can buy Deutz products with confidence.”

He said more and more customers were discovering Deutz-Fahr, with a choice of tech, equipment, specs and comfort variants second to none and able to be customised to suit any particular farming task.

“With that burgeoning reputation comes demand.

We’ve been fortunate enough to get ahead of the curve and order in enough stock to keep our customers happy, get them behind the wheel of a new machine that will make a big difference to the efficiency of their farming operations.”

One regular customer is Russell ‘Bull’ Wheeler who farms on just over 800 ha — dairy, hay, silage — halfway between Shepparton and Elmore.

The Deutz-Fahr 6 series is gaining plenty of interest.

For decades Russell milked 1000 head a day, so he knows a thing or two about tractors and implements and how to source them.

“We got into a Deutz-Fahr 6165 RC,” Mr Wheeler said.

“My son worked it for eight weeks straight — we couldn’t believe the tech in it.

‘‘We got a McHale baler for it as well, from Christian. ‘‘The other tractor brand we’d always had just couldn’t fulfil what we needed anymore. The

quality we have now with the Deutz is that far in front of what we had, it’s ridiculous.”

Aside from the popular DeutzFahr 6 Series, Goulburn Valley Ag and its staff are preparing for the arrival of the muchacclaimed Warrior Series.

There’s a choice of eight unique Warrior models, ranging in power outputs from 171 hp to 336 hp, and two transmission types, RCshift and the TTV continuously variable transmission.

Designed and built specifically for the Australian market, the new 6, 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors are set to be game changers, embodying all that is synonymous with Deutz engines and engineered to be AdBlue and DPF technology-free, enabling Australian farmers to use straight diesel once more.

“Christian has been over at my place more times than I can remember,” Mr Wheeler said.

“When you’ve been in farming all your life you appreciate good people and good service.” ➤ For more details, phone Goulburn Valley Ag on 5832 5500, or visit the website at: www.goulburnvalleyag.com.au

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32 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

Grain may prove to be go-to M

any Australian farmers are likely to opt to go through to grain instead of making hay this year to capitalise on worldwide demand.

The Feed Central August fodder report compiled by general manager Cieran Maxwell and account manager Jock Jackson says growers are asking if they will make hay or go to grain.

“For many, grain will be the goto option with drought in America, floods in China and Russia’s grain forecast for 2021 downgraded by 5.9 million tonnes, so prices for grain are expected to remain firm,” Mr Maxwell said.

If producers did not have appropriate shed space for storage or a firm market off the paddock, hay and straw should not be considered an option, he said.

The August Feed Central report said July fodder sales were sporadic and random, with some reasonable tonnage moving in unpredictable patterns, and prices of hay remaining stable.

Quality remains a big concern, with rain-affected hay and mice plagues emphasising the importance of consistent and readily available quality fodder supply.

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■ Continued on page 33

Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 33

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haymaking

option over hay this season ■ From page 32

Quality remains a big concern, with rain-affected hay, mice plagues and high expectations from end users putting an emphasis on the importance of consistent and readily available quality supply.

Feed Central has adapted to these challenges by tightening grades and introducing extra control measures to deal with seasonal challenges.

During July, Feed Central traded 6000 tonnes of fodder as a level of some normality returned to the trade, with cereal hay and straw dominating.

Most vetch stayed in Victoria and lucerne was used randomly for protein top-ups.

Mr Maxwell said it was likely that less fodder would be produced in the coming season, bringing balance to supply and demand.

“As we move through 2022, with any level of drier conditions pending successful harvest, we could see some shortage of higher quality product,” he said.

Lucerne was the highestpriced fodder in July, selling for nearly $400 in Queensland, $250 in NSW, more than $200 in Victoria and $200 in South Australia.

Most of the hay traded was shedded and of high quality.

Some cutting has started early

Feed Central said lucerne was the highest-priced fodder in July, selling for nearly $400 in Queensland, $250 in NSW, more than $200 in Victoria and $200 in South Australia.˘

this year with a number of Queensland producers rolling the dice and cutting in August.

It is likely they will struggle to get this hay dry without excessive raking, and quality is likely to be variable.

Many producers are dumping supply of 2020-21 cereal hay and straw on the market in attempts to shift prior to newseason production to make room in their sheds.

However, Mr Maxwell said end

users wanted higher quality lines of fodder.

Mr Maxwell said record beef prices and a growing herd was good news for the fodder industry, and the dairy industry was also in good shape with

strong milk prices, affordable input prices and abundant green fodder. ➤ The full report is available at: https://www.feedcentral. com.au/national-hay-marketreport-august-2021/

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34 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

Hay disease red leather leaf O

aten hay growers are being warned to keep an eye out for red leather leaf, with recent wet weather providing the ideal environment for the common foliar disease to flourish.

Red leather leaf is the most common foliar disease of oats in the medium and high rainfall zones of south-eastern Australia, causing yield losses of 10 to 22 per cent in susceptible varieties.

These losses are due to reduced biomass and stem thickness.

But many growers do not realise the scale to which RLL can infiltrate crops or the damage it can inflict.

Agriculture Victoria cereal pathologist and National Hay Agronomy trial member Hari Dadu said dry weather reduced the amount of disease, but it did not take long to reemerge following wet weather.

“Even though this season had a late break, the disease can develop quickly, especially for those who grow oats on oats, as the disease is

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already there on the stubble residue,” he said.

“Last year, the disease was present in many crops in June, it developed slowly in July due to below average rainfall, and once August came and it rained again, the disease built up very quickly and up to 100 per cent of leaves were infected in experiments at Horsham and Inverleigh.”

Close rotation of oats increases the risk of loss due to RLL, as the disease is carried over on stubble.

Supported by the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program, the NHA research in Victoria last year revealed RLL was the most common foliar disease of oats — visible in 80 per cent of crops.

Bacterial blight was the next most prevalent, found in 55 per cent of crops.

The most severe case of RLL resulted in a hay yield loss of up to 22 per cent at the higher rainfall trial at Inverleigh. This demonstrated how damaging RLL could be, especially in wetter environments.

■ Continued on page 35

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Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 35

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haymaking

is a risk for Victorian growers ■ From page 34

Dr Dadu also noted that every 10 per cent increment in infection may result in a one per cent yield loss due to reduced biomass.

Currently there are no registered fungicides for use on RLL in oaten hay crops.

Growers on the lookout for RLL should watch for the emergence of small bluish-white dots on the leaves of oat crops, which turn a red-brown colour before merging.

Dr Dadu said many growers confused the symptoms of RLL with those of bacterial blight.

“The different diseases of oats can be difficult to identify accurately, especially when two or three diseases are present,” he said.

“Growers should talk to their agronomists to become familiar with the signs of RLL and the damage it can cause late in the season.”

But it is not all bad news if a grower finds RLL in their oaten hay crop.

The good news is that even if red leather leaf does appear in an oat crop, the hay can still be used for fodder.

“Our experiments have shown that RLL doesn’t cause any losses to hay quality traits such as crude protein, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and

digestibility,” Dr Dadu said.

“So, the hay is still likely to be useful for fodder even if the colour is affected.”

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36 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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haymaking

Limit hay

W

Haystack fires are a constant threat.

hat causes haystack fires?

Haystack fires have a range of causes, such as sparks from machinery and equipment, embers from nearby burnoffs, or bushfires and lightning strikes.

Hay can also self-ignite when excessive heat builds up. This is called spontaneous combustion, or spontaneous ignition, and is the leading cause of haystack fires in Victoria.

Haystack fires can happen in any type of bale stored in a haystack. Even hay stored as single bales can spontaneously ignite under some conditions.

Haystack fires can spread quickly into the surrounding area and often result in thousands of dollars of damage.

Why does hay heat?

If hay is too ‘green’ (the internal plant moisture content is too high) or if some of the hay becomes damp before, during or after baling, a complex series of biological and chemical processes may cause the hay to heat.

This is because the plant material is still alive and using energy (respiration)

and that microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, are able to grow in the moist environment. These processes, alone or in combination, generate heat which may result in the loss of dry matter, nutritive value, and reduced palatability.

If heating remains undetected and the stack is not pulled apart to allow heat and moisture to escape, such processes may continue and internal bale temperatures will keep rising. When the temperature reaches about 70 C, it may then increase rapidly to the point of spontaneous ignition (about 180 C).

Spontaneous ignition may occur within two weeks of baling and may continue to pose a threat more than three months afterwards.

Signs of heating hay Regularly monitor all haystacks for signs that the hay is heating by using a temperature probe or a crowbar, although this will not detect heat deeper in the stack.

■ Continued on page 37

Book your space in the next Hay Making lift out PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS TO 1000s OF FARMERS PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR’S HAY SEASON. PUBLISHING SEPTEMBER 14, 2021.

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.au Country News, week of Tuesd ay, September 15, 2020 23

Hay Making

High moistur e hay is the way

It’s the year of the tedde r rake and inocu lant according to hay and silage consu ltant Ashley Demp ster. With positi seasonal condi ve tions ahead he says a tedde r rake will be key to dry out hay and prevent mould after rain event s. SEE PAGE 27

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Country News, week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021 37

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haymaking

fire risk ■ From page 36

Other signs of heating include: ■ steam rising from haystacks; ■ condensation or corrosion under hayshed roofing; ■ mould growth in or on bales; ■ unusual odours (burning, musty, pipe tobacco or caramel); and ■ slumping in sections of the haystack.

Minimising the risk Make sure hay is fully cured (dead and dry) and at the recommended moisture content before baling.

The recommended moisture content will vary depending on the type of crop and bale being used.

Use a correctly calibrated moisture meter to check hay moisture levels throughout the baling process. Be sure to test plant nodes and heads inside leaf sheaths for hidden moisture, particularly if baling drought-affected cereal hay.

It’s important to remember that just one damp bale is enough to ignite a haystack, so make

sure you protect all bales from rain, leaking roofs and spouts, and run-off. If some bales become damp, they should be stored separately and closely monitored.

Make sure haystacks are limited in size and have enough airflow to allow heat and moisture to escape. It’s important to know the history and moisture content of the hay you purchase. Store hay away from possible sources of ignition (such as roadsides, workshops, and fuel and chemical storage areas) and away from vegetation that may produce embers if a fire does occur.

Be careful when using vehicles, machinery and equipment near haystacks, especially on high fire risk days. Store hay well away from powerlines because hay can be a source of ignition.

If hay does ignite under or near powerlines, it could be very dangerous and may disrupt the local power supply.

Protecting your assets Store hay in a number of different locations around your farm and limit the size

The CFA provides tips to reduce the risk of haystack fires this season.

of the stacks. This will reduce the risk of losing all your hay if a fire does occur. Hay should be stored away from houses and other key assets.

Do not store vehicles, machinery and equipment with your hay. Create and maintain fuel breaks around haystacks. The wider the break, the more useful it will be at helping to stop a haystack fire from escaping into the surrounding area, or to stop a fire from reaching your stored hay.

What to do if hay is heating If there are signs that the hay is starting to heat, pull the stack apart to

improve airflow and allow the bales to cool.

Be aware that very hot hay may suddenly catch alight if it is pulled apart. If any part of the stack is near or above 70 C or you see or smell smoke, you should call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for assistance from CFA. Do not walk across hay that may be heating.

Charred bales inside the stack may suddenly collapse and result in entrapment, and the rush of air may result in a sudden flare-up. ➤ For more details, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au or cfa.vic.gov.au Information courtesy Country Fire Authority.

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Hay fire prevention – at a glance ■ Ensure hay is fully cured before baling.

■ Bale and store each bale type at the correct moisture level.

■ Know the history of hay that you purchase, particularly its moisture content.

■ Protect hay from rain, leaking roofs and spouts, and cover stacks with tarps or hay caps.

■ Store hay in a number of different locations around your farm, away from key assets. Limit the size of stacks to reduce the risk of losing all of your hay.

■ Do not store vehicles, machinery and equipment in your hayshed.

■ Be careful when operating vehicles, machinery and equipment near your haystacks.

■ Create and maintain fuel breaks around your haystacks.

■ Regularly monitor stored hay for signs of heating.

It only takes one heating hay bale to ignite a whole haystack.

38 Country News week of Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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