Round Bale Hay Storage Costs

Brian J. HolmesProfessor and Extension SpecialistUniversity of Wisconsin- Madison

What hay storage system should I select?

Answer depends on:

1. How long will storage be used?

1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years

What hay storage system should I select?

Answer depends on:

2. What is hay worth?

If you had hay to sell today, what could you get for it?

What hay storage system should I select?

Answer depends on:

2. What is hay worth?

If you had to buy hay today, what would you give for it?

What hay storage system should I select?

Answer depends on:

2. What is hay worth?Grass hayAlfalfa hayBuying on quality (cows, horses etc.)Feeding beef cowsFeeding dairy cowsType and Size of Package

Average Hay Price vs Feed Value

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

103-124 125-149 > 150

RFV/RFQ

Hay

Pri

ce (

$/T

)

.

Small Square

Large Square

Large Round

Average Prices Paid Numerous Midwest Locations (Jan 9, 2004)

www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/pubs/hay_market_report.htm

Bale Type

What hay storage system should I select?

Answer depends on:

3. How long will hay be stored each year and in what seasons?

DM loss depends on moisture, temperature & time

Round Bale Hay Dry Matter Loss Storage Period

Storage Up to Method 9 Months* 12-18 Months === Dry Matter Loss (%) ===Exposed Ground 5-20 15-50 Elevated 3-15 12-35Covered Ground 5-10 10-15 Elevated 2- 4 5-10

Under Roof 2 - 5 3-10

Enclosed Barn <2 2– 5 * If used by spring warm up Huhnke

Hay Dry Matter Losses

Source of Loss Additional CumulativeLoss Loss(%) (%)

---------------------------------------------------------------Respiration/ 2-10* 2-10*Heating

Direct 1-25* 3-35*Precipitation

Ground 2-15* 5-50*Wicking---------------------------------------------------------------•Highest values for 12-18 months storage

Huhnke

Months of Storage

Dry

Mat

ter

Lo

ss (

%)

Fahey et al

Dry Matter Loss vs Months of Storage

Moist Climates-Outside(1.0 - 3.0 % / mo)

Dry Climates or Inside (0.5-1.5 % / mo)

Rate of DM Loss

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

0.5 % /mo

1.0 % /mo

1.5 % /mo

2.0 % /mo

3.0 % /mo

Factors Affecting Dry Matter Loss Rate

Bale:

Type Size Density Initial Moisture Forage Species

Factors Affecting Dry Matter Loss Rate

Weather:

Precipitation Relative Humidity Temperature Sunshine vs Shade

Factors Affecting Dry Matter Loss Rate

Protection from Moisture:

Roof Plastic Wrap/Sleeves Net Wrap vs Twine Tarp Separation from Soil/Ground

Factors Affecting Dry Matter Loss Rate

Separation from Ground:

Plastic WrapLarge Crushed StoneTies/PolesPalletsTiresOther??

% of Bale Volume Weathered

Depth of Weathered Layer (inches)

4 4 16 31 44 56

Round Bale Dimensions

Diameter (ft)

Length (ft) 2 4 6 8

5 4 13 25 36 46

6 5 11 21 31 40

Percentage of Bale Volume Affected by Weathering

Collins et al

Value of Hay Dry Matter Lost in Storage

Storage Hay Price ($/T of Hay @16% Moisture)Loss 40 60 80 100 120 (%) ===== Value Lost ($/Ton Hay)=======

5 2 3 4 5 6 10 4 6 8 10 12 15 6 9 12 15 18 20 8 12 16 20 24 25 10 15 20 25 30 30 12 18 24 30 36 35 14 21 28 35 42 40 16 24 32 40 48 45 18 27 36 45 54 Huhnke

Hay bales should be covered to reduce the nutrients leaching back into the soil.

Shade

Ground Wicking

Precipitation

Shade

Ground Wicking

Precipitation?

What hay storage system should I select?

Answer depends on:

4. What are the economics of alternatives? (Capital vs Annual Costs)

Round Bale Storage Cost Analysis

Results Based on Assumptions that Follow

See URL for spreadsheet to do your analysis

http:// WWW.UWEX.EDU/CES/CROPS/HARVEST.HTM

Location: Humid Climate

Storage Time (months) 6 12

Storage Type Dry Matter Loss (%)

Outside on Ground 9.5 13Outside w Crushed Rock Pad 8 10Outside - Pad & Pallets 7.5 8.5Outside - Pad & Tarp 4 5Outside - Pad, Pallets & Tarp 3 4Inside Building 2 2

Assumptions Used in Analysis

Hay Storage Building Cost vs Floor AreaOpen Sided Building

8.45

5.565.816

9.12

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

0 1000 2000 3000 4000

Floor Area (sq ft)

Bu

ildin

g C

ost(

$ /

sq

ft )

.

12 ft Wall Height

14 ft Wall Height

16 ft Wall Height (est)

3,600 sq ft40 x 90

1,200 sq ft30 x 40

Assumptions Used in AnalysisBale:

Length = 5 ftDiameter = 5 ftWeight = 1200 lbs/baleNumber = 378Total Weight = 227 T

Building:Length = 90 ftWidth = 40 ftHeight = 16 ftCost = $6.00 / sq ftFloor =$0.30 / sq ftTotal Cost = $22,680

Assumptions Used in Analysis

Macadam Storage PadHeight = 3 Bales (Pyramid)Width = 15 ftLength = 315 ftUnit Cost = $0.40 / sq ftLabor Rate = $10 / hrTarp Unit Cost = $0.06 / sq ftPallet unit Cost = $0.26 / sq ftPallet Tractor Rate = $23 / hr

Annual Cost vs Cost / Ton of Hay6 Month Storage

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

40 60 80 100

Cost/Ton ($/T Hay)

An

nu

al C

ost

($/

yr)

.

Ground

Rock Pad

Pad w Pallets

Pad w Pallets & Tarp Building

Pad & Tarp

Annual Cost vs Cost / Ton of Hay12 Month Storage

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

40 60 80 100

Cost/Ton ($/T Hay)

An

nu

al C

os

t ($

/yr)

Ground

Rock Pad

Pad w Pallets

Pad w Pallets &Tarp Building

Pad & Tarp

Annual Cost vs Cost / Ton of Hay6 & 12 Month Storage

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

40 60 80 100Cost/Ton ($/T Hay)

An

nu

al C

ost

($/

yr)

.

Ground (6 mo)

Rock Pad (6 mo)

Pad w Pallets (6 mo)Pad w Pallets &Tarp (6 mo)Building (6mo)

Ground (12 mo)

Rock Pad (12 mo)Pad w Pallets (12 mo)Pad w Pallets &Tarp (12 mo)Building (12 mo)

Pad & Tarp (6 mo)Pad & Tarp (12 mo)

Conclusions Based on Assumptions

1. Storage decisions affect costs significantlyDo your own cost analysis

2. For 6 month storage: Consider Rock Pad or Pad & Tarp at $40/Ton

to insure against wet year Use Rock Pad & Tarp at > $50/Ton Don’t Use Building, Pads w Pallets

or Pads w Pallet & Tarp

3. For 12 Month Storage: Use Rock Pad & Tarp Don’t Use Other Alternatives

Questions?