hay tarps

[dmiller]

I don"t have access to a barn for storing hay. Renting the place so can"t build one either. Does anyone have preferences/advice on tarp styles/brands/weights???
I"ve been using a 6mil tarp (20 by 40, about 900 bales to a stack)with screwed in achors tied every 6 feet or so and tires hanging from the grommets in between. Have done various things over the past few years as ways to tie the tarp down. The wind just shreds the tarp away from the ties.
Are there any weights of tarp that will not shred in 50 mile per hour winds (we get them about twice a month in evening storms)

 

[LAA]

Back when everything was square bales we had to store hay at each pasture and most did not have barns, had to stack on pallets and cover with tarps. Used 3/4'' PVC pipe put together to equal the length of each side of the tarp and used heavy duty tie wraps to fasten the pipe to the tarp at each grommet, drove fence staples every 6-8 inches in the out side boards of the pallets, used a good stout cord wrapped around the PVC through a staple around the PVC through a staple and so on all the way down on both long sides, then closed one end up good and tight and fed out of the other end, every time the stack got 3-4 foot shorter cut the tie wraps on each long side that far back and folded the ''door'' in and weighted it with 5 gallon buckets full of sand or gravel. It takes a little time to first rig up but I would have dry hay and get 2-3 seasons out of those cheap blue or green tarps. On one place there were trees to stretch rope between and made a little barn using the PVC pipe fastened down to rail road ties, the same tarp lasted many years.

 

[Negligence]

Thankfully I haven't had to stack outside in a number of years, but I found the only thing that worked would be to get an extra-wide tarp and jam something heavy (like round bales) on the tarp laying on the ground on both sides of the stack.

I've tried tires, rims, pipe, tying to solid objects, etc. - the grommets just don't hold. Even if you hang something on either side with ropes, it doesn't work 100%.

Best luck I ever had was using the bales to keep the tarp in place. No wind will ever pull the tarp from underneath an 800lb bale. Trust me, it works!!

 

[jason, NW Ontario]

Would you consider buying one of those hooped buildings? They're still portable and you could move it if you stop renting the land. Just a thought.
Otherwise, grommets will always be the weak point.

Jay

 

[dmiller]

So how exactly did you attach the PVC to the sides of the tarp? I agreee that the grommets are the problem.

 

[Charlie M]

I've found when using any canvas a rope over the middle to prevent it from whipping up helps a lot. I takes some of the stress of the grommets.

 

[LAA]

Attached the PVC to the grommets with heavy duty plastic electrical tie wraps pulled as tight as I could get them. Having the tarp tied down as tight as possible also saves the grommets, thats why I put the fence staples so close together and wrapped the rope at close spacing so there would be very little chance of wind getting under the tarp. You can order a grommet tool and grommets off the internet cheap, tool about 10 bucks and grommets around 5 bucks for a bag of 25, I think Sears also sells a tool. I used to add one in between the factory grommets because most of the tarps had the eyes too far apart to get tied down good and it strengthed the tarp overall.

 

[JMS/.MN]

There are companies that recycle the plastic sheeting on billboards....BIL had some connection with one in AZ- they sold sheeting for tarps, and are especially heavy.

 

[JMS/.MN]

I just googled "billboard sheeting recyclers"-----got 3.2 mil hits. Product is 15-20 mil thick.

 

[dmiller]

I'm looking at one right now on ebay. Looks great, at the moment the size I want is available in black only. I'm concerned about the heat of the stack on a 90 plus day in the sun????? Do you guys think it would get hot enough to matter??

 

[jackinok]

if youve been using those poly tarps,try a real canvas one.expensive,but when you see how long they last they become a way better bargain. had one that had a rubberized coating on it once,it held up to everything except the tornado that finally took it,and i would be willing to wager if i could have found it,it would have still been intact.the biggest problem ive had with canvas was mice eating a hole in them when stored and the weight of course.i used to use those poly tarps to cover tractors,boats and things in winter some though.i found that if i took a golfball or rock,wrapped tarp around it,and then tied rope below it,it would last very well.when i tried to use grommets i had the same experience as you.

 

[jackinok]

oh also check around any trucking companies near you.those tarps they use to cover with make EXCELLENT hay tarps,and they lots of times have old ones with a few holes you can buy cheap.they are really heavy but they are sort of sewn to go down over a load so wind cant get under them.have to sort of get on to how to stack your hay so they will fit though.if you can find a couple any awning company,or maybe even a upolstery place could repair them.sister has used one for probably 20 years someone gave me when they bought new and it still works good.

 

[bg/mo]

Have used those billboard signs before, where ever they lay on the hay will be moldy, they dont breathe well.

 

[dmiller]

The one I'm looking at is black. Do you think the sun would generate too much heat on the stack. Also the mold problem you mentioned. Do you think it would be a problem in an area where there is relatively no humidity (a really high day is 60% here in south central Montana)

 

[bg/mo]

we used to cover trailers with black plastic while loaded and the black never caused too much heat while in the sun on our loads , but that was just for a day or two. I wouldnt think it would be a prob.

 

[hayray]

Don't tie to the grommets. Tie the tires to ropes and throw rops over the tarps tied to tires on the opposite side, wind won't blow that off. Or else, buy the 4 mil thick plastic rolls and do the same thing or over-lap plastic onto ground a couple feet and pile wood chips on the plastic up against the stack on both sides and it tightens the plastic right up, wind won't blow that off either. Forget using grommets except for the spikes that mold the tarp to the stack like Missouri Hay Tarps sells.

 

[hayray]

I've used the black and white plastic rolls and have never noticed any difference. You will end up with some tarp burn on the bales that touch the tarp. Leave the ends of the stacks wide open for air circulation. The bottom tier or two will get mold also except your out there and things store so much better. Here we only tarp rounds, small squares won't keep well enough under a tarp to guarentee no dust.

 

[hayray]

They are also so heavy and if you get some snow you will never move them off the stack. The plastic can be cut and thrown off if you have to. I can re-use the plastic a second season if I don't have to cut it to get to the hay because of snow, just depends on the winter.

 

[Larry NEIL]

I stored about 800 small squares outside 5 years ago. Covered them with plastic blue tarps from Menards. I stacked in bundles of 200, covered them and tied ropes around the stacks with weighted ropes over the top.
The wind never moved one tarp....but a scourge of Norway rats moved in and tunneled up from the bottom of the stacks, then ate holes in the tarps at the bale junctions. They acted like funnels and I wound up tossing over 600 bales in a heap.
Last time I ever stacked outside!

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Local guy uses transport tarps, hay is on pallets with a sheet of poly under the pallets. He also puts a layer of pallets on top I believe to get air moving the moisture out the top.

The local golf course tarps their greens every winter before the snow, they lay perferated abs/pvc pipe and connect it to a stack to let the heat out in case they get a hot day while the tarp is on and it lets moisture out. Might be something to so with a stack.

We stored out side with poly tarps one year on the ground with so so clear poly then woven poly on top. Made a mess of good hay. Would not do that again.

I have 1500 bales in a machine shed this year. Plain topsoil/ dirt floor so poly tarp is down, pallets on top, hay on that. So far its good.