How long do straw bales last?

Straw is slow to break down, and Joel has found they tend to last for two growing seasons. Hay bales are used to feed livestock.

How long do straw bales last outside?

Can you save straw bales for next year?

Do straw bales get moldy?

Do straw bales decompose?

Can horses eat old hay?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

What kind of straw do you use in a vegetable garden?

The best straw for gardening comes from wheat or oats, if you can get it. Most of the seed has been removed depending on how effective the farmer’s thresher is and how much weed has grown in his field.

How do you make fake hay?

Can I use wet straw?

Bales that have been soaked will not dry out properly and will instead, heat and rot. Bacterial and fungal growth in these bales will have a significant detrimental impact on the quality of straw in the bale.

Will wet hay catch fire?

“Excessive moisture is the most common cause of hay fires,” Schroeder says.” Odd as it might seem, wet hay is more likely to lead to a spontaneous-combustion fire than dry hay.” High-moisture haystacks and bales can catch on fire because they have chemical reactions that build heat.

What can you do with old wet hay?

Chop or shred spoiled hay and add it to your garden soil in the fall as an organic soil amendment. Work it into the soil with a garden tiller or hand tools and let nature take its course in breaking down the bits of hay. Organic matter improves soil by increasing aeration, improving drainage and adding nutrients.

Should I till straw into my garden?

Do not mix straw into the garden soil, as it will change the carbon/nitrogen ratio of the soil and throw things out of balance; rather, let it break down on top as a mulch. It will work its way in once it has broken down and not disrupt the lifecycles of the organisms in the soil that way.

Does hay stop weeds?

Aside from well-aged compost, hay is arguably the best mulch for a vegetable garden. Like straw, it’s a good insulator, effective against weeds, and breaks down quickly to enrich the soil.

Is my hay moldy?

Look for Mold

Cut open a bale of hay and separate the flakes. Look for the presence of mold in any of the flakes. Moldy hay generally presents as darker areas which are grey or black. If you find mold, refuse the bale – mold indicates that the hay was baled when it was too wet.

Why is my hay so dusty?

Mold and bacteria will grow on hay (without preservative added) at moisture levels above 14% to 15%. The mold growth produces heat, carbon dioxide and water, which further damages the hay. Moldy hay can result in dry matter and nutrient loss and produce spores and dust.

How do you make mini straw bales?

What can I use for a fake straw?

You can use raffia, which is a type of plastic string found at most craft stores, to create the perfect autumn decor.

Do hay bales go bad?

With too much moisture, hay can spoil while baled hay can experience thermal expansion—causing it to combust and creating a severe hazard. Because of this, checking the moisture content of hay with a hay moisture meter before baling begins is an integral part of harvesting.

Is burning hay toxic?

Smoldering and burning hay can be the source of toxic gases. Carbon monoxide can be concentrated within the smoldering fire and surrounding area. Chemically preserved hay crops may produce toxic gas vapors. Deadly gases add to the fire risk.

Will moldy hay hurt pigs?

The good news is that most mold in your hay won’t harm your livestock. Not all molds produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by some species of molds that are toxic to animals. In most cases, if you can’t readily see or smell the mold in your hay it won’t harm your animals.

Which is better mulch hay or straw?

Hay tends to lay flat and pack down, so it decomposes fairly quickly. It also has more of a sponge effect than straw does, which means that in heavy rainfalls, it buffers or slows down the amount of rain that soaks into the soil to help prevent erosion and leeching of nutrients.