Disposing of old straw and hay-LOTS OF IT!

Enygma187

Hey there,

I have inherited an old farm yard, in the process of clearing the site-bit by bit.

Quite a few problems, asbestos, buried rubbish tips etc etc.

But the one problem that I cannot seem to solve is the disposal of old hay and straw bales. They have been idle there for about 35-40 years. There was a roof on it, but I tore that down for scrap about 2 years ago.

Even with the roof on it, the bales were in bits, sodden from the rain, black, mushy etc etc.

Burning it is not an option-way too much of it there.

I don't have access to any farm machinery, so I am hoping that I can either find a waste firm that deals with this, or that a friendly farmer down this direction( Whitegate, Midleton) would take it off my hands.

Any suggestions-is it even worth anything to a farmer?

Thanks in advance for any replies

pakalasa

Compost it by turning it over and over in a pile. You could maybe get a local farmer, with a loader, to do this for you. You could spread it then on the land.

Manoffeeling

Dung spreader and patience

st1979

A rear discharge dung spreader would do it. Ask your local contractor

f140

you are going to have an awful problem with the dung spreader as the twines will completely block it up. I presume they wont have rotted in? I think your dest way to dispose is to lump it into a trailer and then tip it in a field you are going reseeding and try and spread it out some way with the loader and plough it all down.

Farmer Pudsey

JCB or track machine to pull out of shed and heap out side. Get him to layer it add urea to each layer. If you can do it on a wet day or water down layers as you go along. Leave it in the heap until next September either sell it as compost or spread it with a dung spreader. If you have access to a slurry tank you could put slurry on the layers.

Enygma187

Keeping it as compost isn't an option, I'm afraid.

Caught for space. The soil underneath it (there was no concrete floor) I intend on hanging onto, and there is enough of it there for me to use myself and sell.

Had a 'farmer' up a few weeks ago, and he wasn't much help.

I might take a trip across the fields tomorrow, there is a dairy farmer has a yard, they just bought up all the land that used to belong to the farmyard I have. 100 odd acres-he might have a better idea than the guy who was up a few weeks ago.

Can any of you guys tell me, can it be thrown into a slurry pit?

Fairly clueless when it comes to anything related to farming.

mf240

Enygma187 wrote: »

Keeping it as compost isn't an option, I'm afraid.

Caught for space. The soil underneath it (there was no concrete floor) I intend on hanging onto, and there is enough of it there for me to use myself and sell.

Had a 'farmer' up a few weeks ago, and he wasn't much help.

I might take a trip across the fields tomorrow, there is a dairy farmer has a yard, they just bought up all the land that used to belong to the farmyard I have. 100 odd acres-he might have a better idea than the guy who was up a few weeks ago.

Can any of you guys tell me, can it be thrown into a slurry pit?

Fairly clueless when it comes to anything related to farming.

It could be thrown into a dung stead but not a slatted tank

I would just pile it up in a field and let it rot away.

watch out for dust and rats when moving it.

TRactor and grab should be able to clear it.

raher1

Any garden place,they would love some farm manure or u could compost it and sell it. Using turf for compost from bogs is being phased,high carbon.

raher1

Just find a corner and break up the bales,mix some organic natter through it.u will have a garden for spuds in no time.

Birtles

IF the stuff has been in the Shed for 35-40 years than the twines should not be a problem. More than likely Jute twines and if it is as rotten as you say, they will break/break easily. Get in contact with local farmer who bought the land and ask to spread it there. Dont want to be drawing it any distance. Any of the larger spreaders should have no bother spreading it as it should be small squares. IMO