Put a cap on your big squares

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a wetter than average spring as crops are looking promising and many farmers will take the opportunity to conserve hay.

As a result producers are being reminded to think early about storage options for their hay.

It was seasons like this that led experienced hay producer Phil Snowden to invent Hay Caps.

“So much hay was being wasted,” he said.

“When you consider all the effort that goes into making hay it is such a waste to see it stacked in the open with no protection.

“For every 75mm rain that falls on an eight foot by four foot by three foot bale of hay, over 200 litres goes into the top bale. That’s a 44-gallon drum of water and it ruins the hay.

“It is also important to bale at the right moisture to prevent heating and spoilage, or worse, spontaneous combustion.

“If you are going to bale hay then that investment needs to be protected and Hay Caps are a very economical option if you don’t have permanent storage.”

Mr Snowden has been covering hay for more than 30 years and has looked at the major problems with the systems that have been used before he came up with his simple, safe and reusable way to cover large square bale stacks.

He said Hay Caps paid for themselves from the first season by protecting the hay.

“They have the added bonuses of improved and efficient handling, safety and durability.

"Hay Caps have now been widely accepted as a better way of covering hay, with more than 1000 farmers and contractors using them,” Mr Snowden said.

Hay Caps are made on the Snowdens’ family farm in southern NSW using Australian recycled plastic, and are distributed to customers throughout Australia.

▯ Find out more by phoning 1800 HAYCAP or going online to: www.haycap.com.au