What do I do with this hay now?

[secuono]

You need plastic over the ground. Then pallets. Then hay. They're absorbing all of that ground water otherwise.
Toss the moldy spots, rest should be fine.

 

[farmerjan]

Agree with the double or triple pallets to allow for more air flow under. I don't see where a tarp on the ground is going to help because the ground is getting too wet.. water will collect on top of the tarp. Not like you can seal off the ground so to speak. BUT , I would put a tarp or barrier on top of the pallets to help keep the hay drier above it... Do not lay it over the edges so it is on the ground on the sides....or that will stop the airflow... Just cover the pallets so the hay is sitting on dry tarp, and it is up off the ground further.

 

[Baymule]

I get it on the water. Sometimes I think I am raising mud, not sheep.

 

[Ridgetop]

Absolutely do the triple pallet base. With this amount of rain and puddling, the water level on the ground is rising highter than your single pallet base. Use as many pallets wide as you can. Then cover the pallets (not the ground) with a tarp. Leave the ground uncovered since the air space through 3 pallets will help it dry out. Covering the ground wth a tarp keeps any water on top so it can't drain away or sink nto the ground. (Think above ground swimming pool liner.) The tarp will be too big but don't allow the tarp edges to droop down on the ground since moisture will acculuate and run in under the hay on top of the tarp. Fold it up and over the first layer of hay bales. Don't seal it all the way over the tops since you still need some air through the stack. Allow some space between the bales for air flow. Then place more bales on top of the first layer of tarp covered ones - that will hold up the tarp edges from the ground. Stack the hay bales as high as you normally do. Cover the entire stack with another tarp and fasten the edges down to the pallets with hay ropes. Leave one corner untied so you can get to the bales. However, weight that corner down so rain cant get underneath.

The rain will run off the top tarp and the hay underneath it will stay dry. BUT you need to check the inside walls of your tarp hoop house for moisture. Sometimes the humidity causes moisture to bead on the inside of the walls and run down. Anywhere this touches the hay the moisture will be absorbed into the hay.

 

[KodeshAcres]

I get it on the water. Sometimes I think I am raising mud, not sheep.

this right here!!!

 

[KodeshAcres]

Thank you everyone, I did work on the hay shed Monday. I didn't get a chance to read through all of your responses until now so I think I need to make a few adjustments based on what everyone suggested. At least for now I was able to get the hay covered before the last rain came. I only had 4 pallets available at the time so I did two layers with 2 pallets each. I also made space between the rows and put a tarp on top but still left room for air flow. I will remove the plastic from under the pallets when the freezing weather passes and will get in touch with my free pallet guy so I can add a third pallet to each layer. So far I have been checking on the hay and everything is dry and crispy, no condensation, but I know this can change as the weather gets warmer again. I appreciate everyone's feedback and help with this.

Picture before I secured the top tarp.

 

[Baymule]

Hay is wealth. Gates, wire and posts are wealth, better than diamonds and gold jewelry.
What about a cow panel hay barn? T-post the ends, no need for a frame on the ground. Pallets on the ground, stack hay, cover with tarp. Ideas for next year.

 

[Farmercharliesblog]

That is mold. Very bad for animals. It is a good idea to cut off the molded parts but I would not do that. I use it for plants or compost. It is my secret remedy. My family have been trying to figure out how that kid with no sense of plants is keeping a
Thriving garden in summertime.

 

[Simpleterrier]

Hey as a person who has hauled hay for people and has friends in the hay business. Text or call your hay guy and tell him it was your fault not his that it molded. A lot of time we get frustrated with people before we find out what really happened. If you'd like to buy hay from them let them know it was your set up. Just saying. It will go a long way with them.

 

[canesisters]

What about a cow panel hay barn? T-post the ends, no need for a frame on the ground. Pallets on the ground, stack hay, cover with tarp. Ideas for next year.

Here's a link to a cow panel shelter I built, similar to @Baymule & @fuzzi hoop coops but simpler. 2 cow panels, 1 tarp, 4 t-posts & some zip ties.
To use it for hay you would need a tarp big enough to cover the entire thing - or 1 big one for the hoop & 2 small ones for the ends.

New Hoop House for the horse! (pict heavy)

I highjacked another thread to get info about how to build a hoop house, but thought that I would start a new one to post picts of the finished project. My ancient old horse has had to walk through a nasty, muddy, mucky mess to get into the barn where her feed was. I got the materials...

www.theeasygarden.com