Will Rain Ruin Hay Bales?

Unfortunately, rain can damage hay in several ways. Rain leaches soluble nutrients and keeps the moisture level high, thus increasing the likelihood of decay and mold. Hay rained on during field drying of course damages legume hay more than grass hay and the drier the hay when rain occurs, the greater the damage.

Can hay bales get rained on?

There will be some moisture uptake, but not so much. If you hay gets rained on near to when it's cut, it'll have less impact. If it gets rained on near to when it's dry, then you will have leaf shatter," says Undersander. ... However, if hay bales are too wet, mold can grow and give off heat, creating a fire hazard.

What happens if hay bales get wet?

Wet bales are at risk for combustion, store appropriately and check temperatures. Anything above 170°F is high risk. Mold may produce mycotoxins, so roll out and let animals select good portions of moldy bales. Make sure other clean feed is available.