Page 2—Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 1, 1997
Producer: Get Hay Off Field, Wrapped Quickly
(Continued from Pege 1)
“We are one of the few producer
processor-marketers remaining in the
country,” Fink said.
Also, Heidel Hollow manages about
20 acres of vegetables, 17 of which are
in sweet com, managed by David’s
son, Mike. Mike also grows cabbage,
beans, and about I'A acres of plasticul
ture strawberries. Another son, Travis,
helps bale the hay. There are 10 full
time workers in all on the farm.
David Fink, along with wife Sonia,
manager of the poultry operation, pur
chased the farm about two years ago
from David’s father, Orrin. They bale
different types of hay, but so far, “no
big square bales,” he indicated. About
60 percent are small square bales and
40 percent are round. All baleage is
plastic-wrapped. They also double
compress small square bales.
Of particular importance to the farm
is the use of drying techniques crucial
to bringing the moisture of the square
bales down to 15 percent to prevent
mold growth, Fink noted. After cut
ting, the hay is placed in windrows,
baled, and palletized.
While baling, a package accumula
tor is used to organize the bales in tight
rows before they are palletized. There
are 70 bales per pallet. The bales are
‘We are one of the few producer-processor
marketers remaining in the country Fink said.
conveyed to three drying stations farm uses preservatives “on almost all
two of which are fuel-oil fired and one hay,” said Fink. Those preservatives
uses forced ambient air. include buffered propionic acid and a
Depending on the moisture of the drying agent, potassium carbonate,
hay, outside temperatures, and other sprayed on at cutting,
conditions, drying can take from 48 “We do a lot of testing,” said Fink,
hours to seven days, he noted. Howev- All baleage and half of the dry hay get
er, using heating oil can be very expen- analyzed. “Every lot gets tested. All
While baling, a package accumulator is used to
organize the bales in tight rows before they are palle
tized, There are 70 bales per pallet. The bales are con
veyed to three drying stations—two of which are fuel
oil fired and one uses forced ambient air.
sive, said Fink. baleage is tested for moisture, which
Dner capacity stands at 75 tons per helps determine price.*’ This factor is
cycle, or about 2,500 bales. Uie “ hay equivalent price.” Fink said.
Even with the drying, however, the (Turn lo p. a . 4)
Of particular importance to the farm is the use of drying tech
niques crucial to bringing the moisture of the square bales down to
15 percent to prevent mold growth, Fink noted. After cutting, the hay
Is placed In windrows, baled, and palletized.
About 60 percent are small square bales and 40 percent are round. All baleage is plastic
wrapped. They also double-compress small square bales.
“We do a lot of testing,” said Fink. All.baleage and half of the dry
hay get analyzed. “Every lot gets tested. All baleage Is tested for
moisture, which helps determine price.” This factor Is the “hay equi
valent price,” Fink said.
Even with the drying, however, the farm uses preser
vatives ‘on almost all hay,’ said Fink, Those preserva
tives include buffered propionic acid and a drying
agent, potassium carbonate, sprayed on at cutting.
Recently, David’s son Travis, using a skid-steer loader equipped
with a bale rack, was loading an eight and a half ton partial load of
compressed bales for an oversees market.