For many ranchers, the immediate priorities after a flood are securing livestock and repairing damaged fences. Once those urgent tasks are complete, attention should turn to evaluating hay supplies that may have been exposed to standing water.
Experts recommend thoroughly documenting all flood damage with photographs or video, including water levels if possible. Keeping detailed records can help with insurance claims and any disaster assistance that may become available.
Hay that has been saturated by floodwaters should be separated from dry bales as soon as possible. Moisture can transfer between bales, causing additional losses even after the flood has ended. Marking damaged bales with spray paint can help producers identify them while they dry over the coming weeks.
Although spontaneous combustion is generally not a major concern with flood-soaked hay, experts recommend storing wet bales away from barns and other structures until they have dried.
The biggest concern is mold growth. Flooded or heavily soaked hay can quickly develop mold, reducing its nutritional value and making it less appealing to livestock. Some molds also produce mycotoxins that can cause serious health problems in cattle and other animals.
Floodwaters may also leave behind contaminants such as petroleum products, pesticides or harmful bacteria. Hay showing extensive mold growth or suspected contamination should not be fed to livestock unless it has been evaluated by a qualified forage, livestock or nutrition specialist.
Damaged hay does not necessarily have to be discarded. In many cases, it can be spread over bare areas or less productive sections of pasture to add organic matter, return nutrients to the soil and help reduce erosion. However, flood-damaged hay should never be dumped into ponds, lakes or creeks because decomposing vegetation can reduce oxygen levels and harm fish and other aquatic life.
Agricultural experts also encourage producers to review their insurance coverage after recovery efforts are complete. Some policies may cover hay losses from flooding, while others may not, making it worthwhile to understand what protection is available before future severe weather strikes.
