Quality Hay & Straw for Sale Year Round

We have Illinois certified weed free mulch hay/straw. It is certified by an inspector with the Illinois Crop Improvement Association. Call for the details and ask for a copy of the certificate. You can reach Steve at 630-878-6350!

Galusha Farm Offers





We make all of our own hay, in Kane & DuPage Counties, IL. All of our hay is stored inside the barn, including most of the large round bales. The round bales are wrapped with an open mesh netting for ease of transportation handling and final curing and breathing. They do not spoil & fall apart in the melting, when wrapped correctly.

Our barn is humidity controlled by a humidistat that turns on roof fans and floor fans, for ultimate drying after making the hay (all hay sweats & cures after being baled for about 2 weeks). This assures the hay is good, if baled at the correct moisture.

We have a variety of small square bales that weigh 45-55 pounds. Our round bales are 4 ft. x 6 ft. and weigh 900 pounds. Our Big Squares are 3' x 3' and weigh 900 pounds.

Delivery is available at any time by a skid steer loader, wagon, 4x4 truck or truck & trailer. No order is ever too large or small.

If you commit to us, for your winter needs, we will commit to you that the hay is yours, and we will fulfill your winter hay needs until 1st crop comes in mid May to early June. Place your order now for assurance this winter!

Our Guarantee:

"You can have your pick of any hay in the barn, bale for bale. If you bring it back for any reason, without question!" -Steve Berning, Owner of Galusha Farm

Taken from Hay & Forage Grower magazine

Checking hay for temperature to prevent a hay fire:

June 11, 2019 08:00 AM
By Michaela King

This spring has not been a kind one to farmers. If current weather patterns continue, this sets up a scenario where hay harvest moisture is pushed to the limit or cut hay gets rained on. High-moisture hay (usually bales over 30% moisture) is at risk for spontaneous combustion for up to three weeks after harvest. Mesophilic bacteria inside the bale produce and release heat and cause temperatures to reach 130°F to 140°F.

At this point, the best scenario is the bacteria die and the bale begins to cool. However, if bacteria take over, temperatures can rise to over 175°F and fire pockets are likely to form.

The best way to reduce the risk of fire is to bale under the right conditions. The ideal weather is a slight wind with humidity levels of 50 percent or less. This year, days with these conditions have been far and few between.

Proper storage reduces the risk of hay fires. Factors such as volume of bales and density of the stack and airflow between bales play a big role in lowering stored hay temperatures. Experts say bales with a lower density that aren’t stacked too deep and have good ventilation and airflow are at a lower risk of overheating.

 

Checking hay

If you are concerned hay may be baled too wet, monitor internal bale temperatures twice daily for six weeks after baling. Check internal temperatures at the center of the stack or around 8 feet down in larger stacks.

A method for determining fire risk is sticking a 3/8-inch pipe into the stack twice a day. If the pipe is too hot to hold when removed, hay is at risk for fire.

 

Different temperatures … different risk…

According to experts, hay temperatures around 120°F to 130°F don’t cause fires, but they promote mold growth and lower the amount of protein available in the hay. Continued mold growth can raise temperatures to dangerous temperatures and once hay reaches 160°F to 170°F, alert the fire department immediately. At those temperatures, additional chemical reactions occur, and the temperatures rise even higher. In a short period after this begins, spontaneous combustion normally occurs. (NOTE THE WORDS USED HERE).

If temperatures exceed 170°F, call the fire department before removing hay. This chart comes from the National Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service

It is a good outline of the actions needed based on hay temperatures.

For additional information, visit Preventing Fires in Baled Hay and Straw

Makes For A Good Hay Crop

We can deliver by truck, tractor, trailer or wagon ... whatever it takes ... anytime, any place!

We have plenty of hay storage, easy access at ground level, quick loading and plenty of help if you pick up your order.

A full load of bales headed to your barn this winter!

Our round bales are always stored indoors!

Freshly Cut Alfalfa