Following extensive flooding across portions of Texas, experts with the are encouraging producers to document damage and err on the side of caution when dealing with hay exposed to floodwaters or heavy rain.
“We’re fielding calls from producers who have had hay completely washed away from fields, as well as those who have barns full of hay exposed to over a foot of water,” said Bryan Davis, AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment Recovery South region chief, Seguin.
Davis said as producers return to their properties after floodwaters recede, it is important to document damage as part of the recovery process for insurance claims or disaster aid.
“Working to secure livestock and repair fencing will take top priority, but once that is done, they can turn their attention to dealing with damaged hay,” Davis said. “Throughout the entire process, take time to document what you are seeing with a camera, marking the height of the flooding if possible.”
Separate saturated hay to prevent damage to dry bales
Multiple factors can negatively impact hay quality and safety after it has experienced prolonged water saturation, said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., forage specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research Center at Overton and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
[ the ad group id=”151″]
Corriher-Olson is co-author of the AgriLife Extension fact sheet, How to Handle Hay Following a Hurricane or Flood, along with Jason Banta, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist at the AgriLife Extension and Research Center at Overton and professor in the Department of Animal Science.
Producers should separate water-damaged hay from any that can be salvaged to prevent moisture wicking between bales and causing more damage.
Davis said he recommends producers mark water-damaged bales of hay with spray paint to ensure they can be recognized as they dry in the coming weeks.
Although possible spontaneous combustion of wet hay due to flooding is unlikely, it is best to move the wet hay away from any structures, said Corriher-Olson and Banta.
Mold growth, contamination are biggest concerns for flooded hay
Corriher-Olson said mold growth is a significant concern for hay bales exposed to standing water or saturated with rain.
In addition to mold reducing the nutrient content and palatability of hay, some species produce mycotoxins, which can cause significant health problems in livestock if ingested.
“Not all species of mold produce toxins, but it is hard to distinguish whether the mold in your hay will cause toxicity issues,” Banta said.
Additionally, petroleum products, pesticides or biological contaminants in floodwaters are also a concern.
“Do not feed hay that has mold production throughout the bale or that has been potentially exposed to contaminants that could be toxic to livestock,” Banta said. “If someone is unsure, visit with a beef cattle specialist or ruminant nutrition expert before feeding any hay that was damaged.”
Disposal of damaged hay
Corriher-Olson said producers can dispose of flood-damaged hay by spreading it on bare spots or less productive areas in pastures to add organic matter and facilitate the recycling of key nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It can also be used in areas to help with erosion control.
However, it should not be dumped into water bodies like creeks, lakes or ponds because it may deplete oxygen levels and kill aquatic life.
Moving forward
Banta also stressed the importance of documentation throughout the recovery process and possibly adapting insurance coverage with future disaster preparedness in mind.
“Producers may want to check with their insurance company to see if the hay losses might be covered through their policy,” he said. “Also, in the future, when purchasing hay riders on insurance, it would be worth asking if flooding and hurricanes are covered in addition to fire.”
