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December 3, 2025 - Hay here, hay there, hay everywhere! 

Retaining quality in your extra hay supply.

Clearwater County producers saw an incredible increase in hay production in comparison to the 2024 season. Some producers we spoke to said they have 50 to 60 per cent more hay this year, and carryover feed for next year is likely. The more the merrier! 

But let’s talk about better bale storage and how this can affect the quality and longevity of your feed. 

Feed has a shelf life just like anything else edible. As producers we don’t get an expiry label attached to each bale or bag of grain. It becomes obvious when feed is well beyond its expiry date, but it’s important to know when there’s a loss in quality or when dangerous mycotoxins start to develop. 

“Feed intake is reduced when hay is stored outside. On average, for a beef cow you will lose half a pound per day on intake for hay that is not stored and protected,” states Alberta Agriculture. Get those bales out of the field and under proper storage. 

Feed storage becomes very important, especially when there is carryover into the next year. Hay left outside will lose dry matter content because of damage to the outside of the bale. According to Alberta Agriculture, 10 centimetres of spoilage on the outside of a bale could result in 300 pounds of wasted feed. 

Not every farm is equipped with accessible inside covered storage. Building costs, especially in this volatile and tariff riddled economy, are high. Even a simple pole barn with no enclosed walls could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Don’t fret, there are other solutions! 

There’s more than one way to stack a bale. Stack them here, stack them there, stack them everywhere! Contrary to what we may think, stacking bales in a pyramid style is not effective at keeping the moisture out. Rain from the top bales collects in the creases below and this is often where we see rot. 

Barry Yaremcio, a beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture, says studies show stacking round bales in a mushroom shape creates less damage than stacking in a pyramid. A mushroom shape is created by placing the first bale flat side on the ground and then a second one round side up onto the upper flat surface.

Who doesn’t have memories of running on top and jumping from bale to bale when you were a child. If safety is of concern and you have the room for single stacking, then this would be your preferred method. Covering with a plastic tarp and keeping the bales tight against each other will reduce the loss of quality. 

Weeds are also a contributing factor to loss of quality. When hay is in full bloom and still standing in the fields, prior to thinking about storage, it’s a great time to scout for weeds. Clearwater County has a Weed-Free Forage Program we encourage all hay producers to utilize. Contaminated hay is one way that invasive plants are spread throughout the province, across the country, and around the world. As such, there is a growing demand for hay that has been inspected and certified as “weed-free,” especially for use in protected natural areas and parks. Stay tuned this spring to hear more about the Weed-Free Forage Program. 

From all of us at Agriculture Services, we wish you a safe, warm and successful winter-feeding season!