Round Bale Hay Storage Costs
Brian J. Holmes
Professor and Extension Specialist
University 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 hay
Alfalfa hay
Buying on quality (cows, horses etc.)
Feeding beef cows
Feeding dairy cows
Type and Size of Package
Average Prices Paid Numerous Midwest Locations (Jan 9, 2004)
Average Hay Price vs Feed Value
Hay Price ($/T) .
120
100
Bale Type
80
Small Square
60
Large Square
40
Large Round
20
0
103-124
125-149
> 150
RFV/RFQ
www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/pubs/hay_market_report.htm
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
Method
Storage Period
Up to
9 Months*
12-18 Months
=== Dry Matter Loss (%) ===
Exposed
Ground
Elevated
Covered
Ground
Elevated
Under Roof
Enclosed Barn
5-20
3-15
15-50
12-35
5-10
2- 4
10-15
5-10
2-5
3-10
<2
2– 5
* If used by spring warm up
Huhnke
Hay Dry Matter Losses
Source of Loss
Additional Cumulative
Loss
Loss
(%)
(%)
--------------------------------------------------------------Respiration/
2-10*
2-10*
Heating
Direct
Precipitation
1-25*
3-35*
Ground
2-15*
5-50*
Wicking
--------------------------------------------------------------•Highest values for 12-18 months storage
Huhnke
Dry Matter Loss vs Months of Storage
Dry Matter Loss (%)
40
35
30
25
Rate of DM Loss
Moist Climates-Outside
(1.0 - 3.0 % / mo)
0.5 % /mo
1.0 % /mo
20
1.5 % /mo
15
2.0 % /mo
10
3.0 % /mo
Dry Climates
or Inside
(0.5-1.5 % / mo)
5
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Months of Storage
Fahey et al
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 Wrap
Large Crushed Stone
Ties/Poles
Pallets
Tires
Other??
Percentage of Bale Volume Affected by Weathering
Round Bale Dimensions
Diameter
(ft)
Length
(ft)
Depth of Weathered
Layer (inches)
2
4
6
8
% of Bale Volume
Weathered
4
4
16 31
44
56
5
4
13 25
36
46
6
5
11 21
31
40
Collins et al
Value of Hay Dry Matter Lost in Storage
Storage
Loss
(%)
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Hay Price ($/T of Hay @16% Moisture)
40
60
80
100
120
===== Value Lost ($/Ton Hay)=======
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
Huhnke
Precipitation
Hay bales should be covered to reduce the nutrients
leaching back into the soil.
Shade
Ground Wicking
Precipitation?
Shade
Ground Wicking
What hay storage system should I select?
Answer depends on:
4. What are the economics of alternatives?
(Capital vs Annual Costs)
Round Bale Storage Cost Analysis
Results Based on
Assumptions that Follow
See URL for spreadsheet to
do your analysis
http:// WWW.UWEX.EDU/CES/CROPS/HARVEST.HTM
Assumptions Used in Analysis
Location: Humid Climate
Storage Time (months)
Storage Type
6
12
Dry Matter Loss (%)
Outside on Ground
Outside w Crushed Rock Pad
Outside - Pad & Pallets
Outside - Pad & Tarp
Outside - Pad, Pallets & Tarp
Inside Building
9.5
8
7.5
4
3
2
13
10
8.5
5
4
2
Hay Storage Building Cost vs Floor Area
Building Cost($ / sq ft )
.
Open Sided Building
9.5
9
8.5
8
7.5
7
6.5
6
5.5
5
9.12
8.45
12 ft Wall Height
14 ft Wall Height
16 ft Wall Height (est)
6
5.81
5.56
1,200 sq ft
30 x 40
0
1000
2000
Floor Area (sq ft)
3000
4000
3,600 sq ft
40 x 90
Assumptions Used in Analysis
Bale:
Length = 5 ft
Diameter = 5 ft
Weight = 1200 lbs/bale
Number = 378
Total Weight = 227 T
Building:
Length = 90 ft
Width = 40 ft
Height = 16 ft
Cost = $6.00 / sq ft
Floor =$0.30 / sq ft
Total Cost = $22,680
Assumptions Used in Analysis
Macadam Storage Pad
Height = 3 Bales (Pyramid)
Width = 15 ft
Length = 315 ft
Unit Cost = $0.40 / sq ft
Labor Rate = $10 / hr
Tarp Unit Cost = $0.06 / sq ft
Pallet unit Cost = $0.26 / sq ft
Pallet Tractor Rate = $23 / hr
Annual Cost vs Cost / Ton of Hay
Annual Cost ($/yr)
.
6 Month Storage
4000
Ground
3000
Rock Pad
2000
Pad w Pallets
1000
Pad w Pallets
& Tarp
Building
0
40
60
80
Cost/Ton ($/T Hay)
100
Pad & Tarp
Annual Cost vs Cost / Ton of Hay
Annual Cost ($/yr)
12 Month Storage
Ground
4000
Rock Pad
3000
Pad w Pallets
2000
Pad w Pallets &
Tarp
Building
1000
0
Pad & Tarp
40
60
80
100
Cost/Ton ($/T Hay)
Annual Cost vs Cost / Ton of Hay
Annual Cost ($/yr)
.
6 & 12 Month Storage
Ground (6 mo)
Rock Pad (6 mo)
Pad w Pallets
(6 mo)
Pad w Pallets &
Tarp (6 mo)
Building (6mo)
4000
3000
Ground (12 mo)
2000
Rock Pad
(12 mo)
Pad w Pallets
(12 mo)
Pad w Pallets &
Tarp (12 mo)
Building (12 mo)
1000
0
40 60 80 100
Cost/Ton ($/T Hay)
Pad & Tarp
(6 mo)
Pad & Tarp
(12 mo)
Conclusions Based on Assumptions
1. Storage decisions affect costs significantly
Do 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?