| $10 tool could save alfalfa growers thousands of dollars A simple new tool that can be made for under $10 worth of materials from a hardware store may already be helping save alfalfa growers thousands of dollars in California, Idaho,Nevada,North Dakota, and Utah. The brainchild of Ron Thaemert, Blaine County UI Extension educator, the alfalfa moisture tool allows hay producers to know exactly how much moisture is in hay windrows at baling time.This prevents losses from white mold growth,browning or burning of fiber and protein, and stack or barn fires, due to baling when alfalfa is too moist or too dry. His tool creates a model of a bale by compressing multiple samples in the windrow.Then moisture content readings are taken with an electronic bale moisture tester.The new tool allows producers to take accurate readings before bailing, rather than after bailing, to later find out the moisture content was wrong and created damage to the hay by molding,browning, or fire. Thaemert continues to introduce his product to conferences.For more information, please contact him at thaemert@uidaho.edu, or refer to his detailed paper on how to make and use the tool at http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/pdf/CIS/CIS1107.pdf. --Amanda DeRuwe © 2003 University of Idaho, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. |
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