Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) is reminding producers to be mindful when storing round bales this winter.

While outdoor bale storage is convenient and common, it can sometimes result in the loss of dry matter and quality.

"Typically on a bale, you've got about 25 per cent of the total bale material in the outside four to six inches of the bale," says MFGA extension support person John McGregor. "When you get moisture leaching into that, you start losing the sugars that are in the hay, which is a carbohydrate, and you also start to lose some of the digestible protein. Therefore, that outer 25 per cent of the bale becomes of a lower feed quality and may not meet nutrient requirements."

McGregor suggests that producers wrap bales with net wrap rather than twine, and stack bales tightly end-to-end with about a three-foot space between rows for air movement.

"The other thing that a lot of producers don't think about, is if it's possible, orienting your bales in a north/south direction is a good idea," he says. "That way, with the bales in a north/south direction and the sun rising from east to west, it gives the bales the opportunity to have sun exposure on all sides of the bales, which, again, helps to dry the bales out."

He also says bales should be stored in areas with good drainage and good air movement, in an open area close to where they'll be using the bales, and away from tree lines. He suggests an area with a slope or some sort of gravel material to wick water away from bales.