Hayboss H2O precision moisture sensor : Understanding and managing moisture in bales
5th September 2019
Reap the benefits of the H2O precision moisture sensor from HayBoss
Management of moisture levels is crucial to the successful production of quality bales. The Hayboss H2O precision moisture sensor for round balers puts you in full control, giving super-accurate, at-a-glance moisture content information on your Smart Phone as you bale.
Baler-mounted, the H2O precision moisture sensor saves time and effort. It allows complete on-the-move visibility of crop conditions without the down-time that is required to stop and test moisture levels with, for example, a hand probe.
Baling at optimum moisture maximises baler output, reduces spoilt forage and increases baler revenue potential. The long-term storage life of bales is enhanced to produce a high-quality, safe crop for livestock feed and bedding.
Don’t risk incorrect moisture levels
Correct moisture levels of below 15% safeguard long-term storage of hay and straw bales, inhibit the growth of mould spores, rotting and overheating. Once above 16%, there are likely to be varying degrees of spoilage ranging from discolouration to full-blown self-combustion. Combustion of crops occurs at around 25% where there is a perfect combination of moisture (which triggers heating) and oxygen.
For haylage and silage - where bales are wrapped and a fermentation process takes place - understanding optimum moisture is essential. The level of sugar in the grass at the time of baling determines the optimum moisture at which to bale. Too wet and with lower than ideal sugars risks high levels of butyric acid which results in lower dry matter and energy content. If baled too dry there is not enough moisture for the product to ferment correctly and this risks fungal growth.
H2O Precision Moisture Sensor
• Continuously reads through the outer 15cm of the round bale as it forms within the chamber
• Displays instantaneous moisture readings updated every second
• Accuracy +/-1%
• Precise measurement is achieved through twin discs which send a 10 volt signal through the bale 5 times per second to monitor stem and leaf moisture
• Provides the operator with the last bale’s average moisture
• Only baler-mounted moisture sensor to read up to 60% moisture with reliable accuracy
• Icon-based app is simple to use and free to download from the iTunes Store or Android Play Store
• Systems available for all baler dimensions
• ‘PLUG AND GO’ wet bale management systems
The optional Wet Bale Marker accessory will mark every bale that is above a set moisture alarm point with a red or blue, food-grade colour. The bale is marked as it leaves the chamber, allowing the operator to easily identify those bales that are above their preferred moisture threshold. Understanding and identifying the bales that exceed the moisture safe threshold allows them to be separated for storage.