Most producers realize that doing a poor job of storing round bales of hay outside results in hay losses, but it seems that many producers don’t realize how much loss can occur. In climates having significant rainfall, there are three major ways that doing a our job of storing hay costs money. First, forage quality can be greatly reduced because water moving through hay can leach soluble nutrients and result in mold. Second, dry weight of the bale can be sharply reduced by microorganism activity in moist hay. Third, animal refusal of weathered hay is much higher, so a smaller amount of the hay stored will be consumed than would be otherwise. To purchase Forage-Livestock Quotes and Concepts books for $5 each, contact the KY Forage and Grassland Council

at ukforageextension@uky.edu.