Drying small square bales - Coolmore

cmac

This weeks FJ had a little piece about the scale of Coolmore Stud's sqaure bale operation. Interestingly they mentioned that Coolmore use "an American style system of cutting and applying the finishing drying indoors".
Does anyone have any information on the setup? I know that the use of forced air/draft is popular in some of the US states, but I thought that was almost exclusively for large squares or round. As a maker of small squares I'd love to know more.

Dampintheattic

cmac wrote: »

This weeks FJ had a little piece about the scale of Coolmore Stud's sqaure bale operation. Interestingly they mentioned that Coolmore use "an American style system of cutting and applying the finishing drying indoors".
Does anyone have any information on the setup? I know that the use of forced air/draft is popular in some of the US states, but I thought that was almost exclusively for large squares or round. As a maker of small squares I'd love to know more.

Buy this baby, and report back :eek: http://www.donedeal.ie/otherfarmmachinery-for-sale/hay-dryer-blower/5361298

Sam Kade

Not much need for dryers this weather I had hay cut 3 days fit to round bale and if the baler choked for any reason the bale would stop rotating in the baler.

cmac

The blower would be the easier bit of the puzzle. Does it need to be done on a raised platform and must the stack be covered, etc?
Also, at what moisture content are they baling the small squares?

kowtow

cmac wrote: »

This weeks FJ had a little piece about the scale of Coolmore Stud's sqaure bale operation. Interestingly they mentioned that Coolmore use "an American style system of cutting and applying the finishing drying indoors".
Does anyone have any information on the setup? I know that the use of forced air/draft is popular in some of the US states, but I thought that was almost exclusively for large squares or round. As a maker of small squares I'd love to know more.

One thing that has struck me on returning to Ireland is how long hay is left in the field before putting up. We've just lifted small bales which were knocked last Thursday and contractors seemed a bit surprised we were baling so soon..

It's fifteen or more years since I made hay in the UK but I never remember leaving it down so long, comes into the barn much greener..

who the fug

kowtow wrote: »

One thing that has struck me on returning to Ireland is how long hay is left in the field before putting up. We've just lifted small bales which were knocked last Thursday and contractors seemed a bit surprised we were baling so soon..

It's fifteen or more years since I made hay in the UK but I never remember leaving it down so long, comes into the barn much greener..

We always baled third or fourth day if weather was good, nothing nicer than green hay

cmac

I've been noticing the difference between ourselves and the US too. The fewer days it's out in the filed the better as far as I can see, but then I appreciate the need to drive down the mc and get the crop ready to store over the winter.
I know that we always saved hay by hand when I was a kid, cocked up and then brought in and build again in the shed, so I suppose that allowed for a lot of additional drying. Then when the first baler arrived I remember everyone being terrified about the danger of a bale catching fire. perhaps that's why the crop is left in the filed so long.

kowtow

cmac wrote: »

The blower would be the easier bit of the puzzle. Does it need to be done on a raised platform and must the stack be covered, etc?
Also, at what moisture content are they baling the small squares?

If you search "barn dried hay" on google there are few examples using palettes, drying / air channels, etc.

moy83

I dont know much about the driers in Coolmore but a buddy of mine works there and they were drying hay two weeks ago when we had that damp weekend . He said they wouldnt take the chance of leaveing it out for in case sunshine didnt come . Must be dear hay he said the oil truck has to come every second day to fill the dryers

Conmaicne Mara

moy83 wrote: »

I dont know much about the driers in Coolmore but a buddy of mine works there and they were drying hay two weeks ago when we had that damp weekend . He said they wouldnt take the chance of leaveing it out for in case sunshine didnt come . Must be dear hay he said the oil truck has to come every second day to fill the dryers

Farming where money isn't a barrier, bet they'd give Teagasc a run for their money :pac:

moy83

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Farming where money isn't a barrier, bet they'd give Teagasc a run for their money :pac:

At least coolmore will turn out the odd winner

cmac

moy83 wrote: »

I dont know much about the driers in Coolmore but a buddy of mine works there and they were drying hay two weeks ago when we had that damp weekend . He said they wouldnt take the chance of leaveing it out for in case sunshine didnt come . Must be dear hay he said the oil truck has to come every second day to fill the dryers

So air exchange alone isn't enough?? I wonder what kind of temperatures they use?