CA1255095A - Drying field crops - Google Patents
Drying field cropsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1255095A CA1255095A CA000486681A CA486681A CA1255095A CA 1255095 A CA1255095 A CA 1255095A CA 000486681 A CA000486681 A CA 000486681A CA 486681 A CA486681 A CA 486681A CA 1255095 A CA1255095 A CA 1255095A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- crop
- hay
- nylon film
- film
- drying
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F25/00—Storing agricultural or horticultural produce; Hanging-up harvested fruit
- A01F25/14—Containers specially adapted for storing
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
- A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
- A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
- A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
- A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
- A01F2015/0745—Special features of the wrapping material for wrapping the bale
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Storage Of Harvested Produce (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT THE DISCLOSURE
A method for drying and storing harvested field crops comprises covering the harvested crop, e.g. hay or grain, with nylon film.
A method for drying and storing harvested field crops comprises covering the harvested crop, e.g. hay or grain, with nylon film.
Description
~ ~S~9;~
DRYING FIELD _ROPS
The present invention relates to a method for drying and storing harvested Eield crop material, e.g. hay, Indian corn.
The term ~If ield crop" as used herein relates particularly to animal feed crops and includes grain after it has been separated from the plant, and hay. The term excludes straw and vegetable crops e.g. root crops, beans and the like.
For many years the preferred method of harvesting forage crop material has been to cut it, form it into windrows, permit it to dry and then bale it in block or round bales for subsequent storage and use. In more recent years it has become increasingly popular to form large round bales that simplify handling and exhibit improved weathering characteristics. Such large round bales can be stored outdGors .
Forage crops harvested by the cut and bale method must be dried to less than about 20% moisture to prevent growth of moulds and to prevent other undesirable biological activity that results in hay spoilage. The drying time for a crop such as alfalfa i5 normally about four days of hot sunny weather. Other crops such as red clover reguire longer. If it rains before ba]ing, the drying time must be extended and further deterioration in feed quality will result. The requirement for prolonged periods of sunshine restrict the harvesting season for baled hay. When the moisture content of a forage crop is dried to below about 20%, the plant material becomes brittle and the action of baling results in loss of leaf material. Since leaves contain a substantial proportion of a plant's protein, baling often results in a loss of edible protein. Although large round bales can be stored outside, there is also a resultant loss of usable feed due to rotting.
In order to overcome the aforementioned hay
DRYING FIELD _ROPS
The present invention relates to a method for drying and storing harvested Eield crop material, e.g. hay, Indian corn.
The term ~If ield crop" as used herein relates particularly to animal feed crops and includes grain after it has been separated from the plant, and hay. The term excludes straw and vegetable crops e.g. root crops, beans and the like.
For many years the preferred method of harvesting forage crop material has been to cut it, form it into windrows, permit it to dry and then bale it in block or round bales for subsequent storage and use. In more recent years it has become increasingly popular to form large round bales that simplify handling and exhibit improved weathering characteristics. Such large round bales can be stored outdGors .
Forage crops harvested by the cut and bale method must be dried to less than about 20% moisture to prevent growth of moulds and to prevent other undesirable biological activity that results in hay spoilage. The drying time for a crop such as alfalfa i5 normally about four days of hot sunny weather. Other crops such as red clover reguire longer. If it rains before ba]ing, the drying time must be extended and further deterioration in feed quality will result. The requirement for prolonged periods of sunshine restrict the harvesting season for baled hay. When the moisture content of a forage crop is dried to below about 20%, the plant material becomes brittle and the action of baling results in loss of leaf material. Since leaves contain a substantial proportion of a plant's protein, baling often results in a loss of edible protein. Although large round bales can be stored outside, there is also a resultant loss of usable feed due to rotting.
In order to overcome the aforementioned hay
- 2 - ~Z,~s S ~ 9S
spoilage, several sources have suggested wrapping roll-type bales with a plastic film. The plastic film is wrapped around the roll-type bale in a manner such that the "flat"
sides or ends of the bale are not covered with the film.
Such an arrangement protects the bale from rain and ground water, and yet permits the bale to ~breathe" in order to prevent spoilage from mould growth and the like. Examples of roll-type bales wrapped in film, and machinery for wrapping such bales are disclosed in UOS~ Patent 4 167 844, which issued 1979 September 18 to Freimuth et al.; U~S.
patent 4 173 112, which issued 1979 November 06 to E.R
Meiners; U~S. Patent 4 224 782, whieh issued 1980 September 30 to P. Moflag; U.S. Patent 4 409 784 which issued 1983 October 18 to Van Ginhoven et al.; and "New Baler Wraps Bales in Plastic~, Farm Show, Yol. 3 No. 2, 1979 published by Farm Show Publishing Inc., Lakeville, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Disadvantages encountered wi~h the previously disclosed methods of protecting hay bales with plastic film are that the open ends of the bale are still subject to spoila5e, and the cut hay must still be dried for at least our to five days prior to forming and wrapping the bale, in order to prevent mould growth. In addition, in cases where the dried hay has a moisture content of about 20~ or less, there is a substantial leaf loss during the baling operation.
In some agricultural areas, four consecutive sunny days ~t haymaking time is a relatively rare occurrence. Therefore it is desirable to have a method for making hay which reduces the time that the cut crop must lie in the field. One such method is the formation of haylage, in which freshly cut hay crop, e.g. clover, alfalfa, is loaded into airtight silos. Haylage is then stored under anaerobic conditions. Although the feed quality of haylage is much better than that of baled hay, the capital investment is high for the required silos.
High moisture-content grain erops, e.g. Indian B
spoilage, several sources have suggested wrapping roll-type bales with a plastic film. The plastic film is wrapped around the roll-type bale in a manner such that the "flat"
sides or ends of the bale are not covered with the film.
Such an arrangement protects the bale from rain and ground water, and yet permits the bale to ~breathe" in order to prevent spoilage from mould growth and the like. Examples of roll-type bales wrapped in film, and machinery for wrapping such bales are disclosed in UOS~ Patent 4 167 844, which issued 1979 September 18 to Freimuth et al.; U~S.
patent 4 173 112, which issued 1979 November 06 to E.R
Meiners; U~S. Patent 4 224 782, whieh issued 1980 September 30 to P. Moflag; U.S. Patent 4 409 784 which issued 1983 October 18 to Van Ginhoven et al.; and "New Baler Wraps Bales in Plastic~, Farm Show, Yol. 3 No. 2, 1979 published by Farm Show Publishing Inc., Lakeville, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Disadvantages encountered wi~h the previously disclosed methods of protecting hay bales with plastic film are that the open ends of the bale are still subject to spoila5e, and the cut hay must still be dried for at least our to five days prior to forming and wrapping the bale, in order to prevent mould growth. In addition, in cases where the dried hay has a moisture content of about 20~ or less, there is a substantial leaf loss during the baling operation.
In some agricultural areas, four consecutive sunny days ~t haymaking time is a relatively rare occurrence. Therefore it is desirable to have a method for making hay which reduces the time that the cut crop must lie in the field. One such method is the formation of haylage, in which freshly cut hay crop, e.g. clover, alfalfa, is loaded into airtight silos. Haylage is then stored under anaerobic conditions. Although the feed quality of haylage is much better than that of baled hay, the capital investment is high for the required silos.
High moisture-content grain erops, e.g. Indian B
3 ~ ~,S5~5 corn, which are harvested in the autumn, must also be dried prior to being stored~ in order ~o prevent spoilage~
Presently most of such grain is dried in heated air grain dryers. The costs and benefits of such dryers are described in Agriculture Canada publication No. 1700, ~Heated Air Grain Dryers". Depending on the size and efficiency of the grain drying operation, the cost of drying may be as hiyh as about ~10/tonne. If grain crops could be dried in much the same manner as hay, i.e. outdoors, using the heat of the sun t substantial savings could be made. The present invention provides a method for so doing.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for drying a harvested field crop which comprises substantially completely covering a gathered portion of said field crop in nylon filmO
In one embodiment the nylon film has a thickness of from about 50 ~m to about 110 ~m, In another embodiment the nylon film is pigmented, printed or dyed to such an extent that the light transmission therethrough in the 250 to 500 nm wavelength range is less than about 30 %, preferably less than about 10%, and especially less than about 3%.
In a preferred embodiment the ~ield crop is hay or Indian corn.
In one particularly preferred embodiment a hay forming field crop, e.g. clover, alfalfa or grass, is cut and permitted to dry, partially, until the moisture content of the crop is less than about 50 wt. ~, said partially dried crop then being baled and the bale wrapped completely in nylon film.
In another particularly preferred embodiment a hay forming field crop is cut and permitted to dry, partially, until the moisture content is less than about 50 wt. ~, said partially dried crop then be~ng gathered in a compact mass upon a ground ~urface and the compact mass covered with nylon film in such a manner that there is a ~ 4 ~ ~Z S 5095 substantially airtight seal between the nylon film and the ground surface. In such an cmbodiment~ the ground surface may be covered by a moisture impermeable film or fabric, e.g. polyethylene film, or coated woven polyolefin fabric.
In yet another particularly preferred embodiment grain, e.g. Indian corn, having a moisture content of less than about 30 wt. ~ is wrapped completely in nylon film and left outdoors.
The invention is described more particularly in the following:
Freshly-cut hay normally has a moisture content of about 80 wt. ~. In the method of the present invention, although it is possible to cut, bale and wrap in one operation, it is desirable to cut the hay under good drying conditions and to leave the hay as-cut, i.e. on the ground for about a day prior to baling After such a period of time the moisture content of the hay after laying on the ground would generally be less than about 50 wto ~ and often as low as about 30-35 wt. %. The hay may then be wrapped in nylon film using a mechanical device similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent 4 173 112, except that the film used is substantially wider than the bale. This allows the film which is not in contact with the bale to be gathered and secured, e.g. with twine or adhesive tape. It is important that there be as few punctures as possible in the nylon film. Although not wishing to be bound ~y any theory it is speculated thatt because nylon film is relatively permeable to moisture and yet relatively impermea~le to oxygen, the hay does not spoil because of substantially anaerobic conditions within the nylon wrapping and the gradual drying of the hay because of molsture loss through the nylon film. Drying of the hay is accelerated if the nylon film is coloured with a dark dye or pigment, e~g.
carbon black.
In another embodiment of the invention, the hay may be baled, the bales collect0d in rows and nylon films be - 5 ~ S ~ ~ ~
placed over each row, much in the manner of a tarpaulin, but ensuring that the nylon film reaches the gr~und all around the row. The nylon film should be secured to the ground in a manner that minimizes air from passing into the wrapped bale from ~utside~ Securing the film may be accomplished using rocks, earth~ lumber or other readily available materials. A polyethylene or other water-impervious ground sheet may be desirable in some circumstances to prevent transmission of groundwater film into the bale.
In yet another emodiment nylon film may be fabricated in the form of a bag and the bag placed over the ~ale, then closed with sealing tape or by twisting and tyins the open end of the bag. A ground sheet of water impermeable film, e.g. those made from polyolefins, may be incorporated into the bag construction or placed under the bale after bagging to prevent absorption of ~round water.
For drying grain, it is preferable that the grain be wrapped in nylon film and the thus wrapped grain be contained in a crib. The crib should be designed and located in such a manner that the surface area of the wrapping, which is exposed to sunlight, is maximized. For example the crib may be between about 0.3 and 1.5 metres in wid~h and about 3 to 4 metres high.
,~
Presently most of such grain is dried in heated air grain dryers. The costs and benefits of such dryers are described in Agriculture Canada publication No. 1700, ~Heated Air Grain Dryers". Depending on the size and efficiency of the grain drying operation, the cost of drying may be as hiyh as about ~10/tonne. If grain crops could be dried in much the same manner as hay, i.e. outdoors, using the heat of the sun t substantial savings could be made. The present invention provides a method for so doing.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for drying a harvested field crop which comprises substantially completely covering a gathered portion of said field crop in nylon filmO
In one embodiment the nylon film has a thickness of from about 50 ~m to about 110 ~m, In another embodiment the nylon film is pigmented, printed or dyed to such an extent that the light transmission therethrough in the 250 to 500 nm wavelength range is less than about 30 %, preferably less than about 10%, and especially less than about 3%.
In a preferred embodiment the ~ield crop is hay or Indian corn.
In one particularly preferred embodiment a hay forming field crop, e.g. clover, alfalfa or grass, is cut and permitted to dry, partially, until the moisture content of the crop is less than about 50 wt. ~, said partially dried crop then being baled and the bale wrapped completely in nylon film.
In another particularly preferred embodiment a hay forming field crop is cut and permitted to dry, partially, until the moisture content is less than about 50 wt. ~, said partially dried crop then be~ng gathered in a compact mass upon a ground ~urface and the compact mass covered with nylon film in such a manner that there is a ~ 4 ~ ~Z S 5095 substantially airtight seal between the nylon film and the ground surface. In such an cmbodiment~ the ground surface may be covered by a moisture impermeable film or fabric, e.g. polyethylene film, or coated woven polyolefin fabric.
In yet another particularly preferred embodiment grain, e.g. Indian corn, having a moisture content of less than about 30 wt. ~ is wrapped completely in nylon film and left outdoors.
The invention is described more particularly in the following:
Freshly-cut hay normally has a moisture content of about 80 wt. ~. In the method of the present invention, although it is possible to cut, bale and wrap in one operation, it is desirable to cut the hay under good drying conditions and to leave the hay as-cut, i.e. on the ground for about a day prior to baling After such a period of time the moisture content of the hay after laying on the ground would generally be less than about 50 wto ~ and often as low as about 30-35 wt. %. The hay may then be wrapped in nylon film using a mechanical device similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent 4 173 112, except that the film used is substantially wider than the bale. This allows the film which is not in contact with the bale to be gathered and secured, e.g. with twine or adhesive tape. It is important that there be as few punctures as possible in the nylon film. Although not wishing to be bound ~y any theory it is speculated thatt because nylon film is relatively permeable to moisture and yet relatively impermea~le to oxygen, the hay does not spoil because of substantially anaerobic conditions within the nylon wrapping and the gradual drying of the hay because of molsture loss through the nylon film. Drying of the hay is accelerated if the nylon film is coloured with a dark dye or pigment, e~g.
carbon black.
In another embodiment of the invention, the hay may be baled, the bales collect0d in rows and nylon films be - 5 ~ S ~ ~ ~
placed over each row, much in the manner of a tarpaulin, but ensuring that the nylon film reaches the gr~und all around the row. The nylon film should be secured to the ground in a manner that minimizes air from passing into the wrapped bale from ~utside~ Securing the film may be accomplished using rocks, earth~ lumber or other readily available materials. A polyethylene or other water-impervious ground sheet may be desirable in some circumstances to prevent transmission of groundwater film into the bale.
In yet another emodiment nylon film may be fabricated in the form of a bag and the bag placed over the ~ale, then closed with sealing tape or by twisting and tyins the open end of the bag. A ground sheet of water impermeable film, e.g. those made from polyolefins, may be incorporated into the bag construction or placed under the bale after bagging to prevent absorption of ~round water.
For drying grain, it is preferable that the grain be wrapped in nylon film and the thus wrapped grain be contained in a crib. The crib should be designed and located in such a manner that the surface area of the wrapping, which is exposed to sunlight, is maximized. For example the crib may be between about 0.3 and 1.5 metres in wid~h and about 3 to 4 metres high.
,~
Claims (5)
1. A method for drying a harvested field crop comprising substantially completely covering a gathered portion of said field crop with nylon film.
2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein a hay-forming field crop is permitted to dry, partially, until the moisture content of said crop is less than about 50 wt. %, said partially dried crop then being baled and the bale wrapped completely in nylon film.
3. A method according to Claim 1 wherein a hay-forming field crop is permitted to dry, partially, until the moisture content is less than about 50 wt. %, said partially dried crop then being gathered in a compact mass upon a ground surface and the compact mass covered with nylon film in such a manner that there is a substantially airtight seal between the nylon film and the ground surface.
4. A method according to Claims 2 or 3 wherein the field crop is clover, alfalfa or grass.
5. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the harvested field crop is grain.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000486681A CA1255095A (en) | 1985-07-11 | 1985-07-11 | Drying field crops |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000486681A CA1255095A (en) | 1985-07-11 | 1985-07-11 | Drying field crops |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1255095A true CA1255095A (en) | 1989-06-06 |
Family
ID=4130967
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000486681A Expired CA1255095A (en) | 1985-07-11 | 1985-07-11 | Drying field crops |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1255095A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109997972A (en) * | 2019-03-30 | 2019-07-12 | 甘肃农业大学 | A kind of Alpine-arctic Pastoral oat high-moisture hay modulation method |
-
1985
- 1985-07-11 CA CA000486681A patent/CA1255095A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109997972A (en) * | 2019-03-30 | 2019-07-12 | 甘肃农业大学 | A kind of Alpine-arctic Pastoral oat high-moisture hay modulation method |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |