Hay Probe Pulls Sample,Takes Temp

Hay Probe Pulls Sample,Takes Temp HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Accessories 18-5-29 "We learned the hard way about spoiled hay last year when we had over 60 in. of rain in this area, more than twice our normal rainfall," says Howard Dickey, a Missouri farmer-manufacturer who's designed a new hay probe that takes a temperature reading inside bales and also pulls out a sample. "It's great for anyone buying or selling hay. If you're buying, you can get a true picture of the product. If you're selling, farmers don't have to bust up your baps to get a look at what's inside," says Dickey. The T -handled probe has an industrial grade thermometer embedded in a slot near the point on the shaft that takes a reading deep inside a bale. A sharp-edged notch just above the point of the probe, cuts off a sample of hay by twisting the handle 360? before pulling the probe out. If you just want to pull a sample, you can slip the probe in and pull it right out.. To get an accurate temperature reading, you leave the probe in for about 15 min. "A reading of 150? indicates hay is approaching danger, at 160? you should check the hay every 4 hrs., at 175? hot spots or even fire pockets are possible, and at 185? flames will probably develop as you move hot hay out into open air." Hay probe sells for $45. Dickey is also just completing work on a design for a new core sampler that gives relative feed values. "It'll be easy to use and unlike anything on the market," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Howard Dickey, Dickey Farms, Rt. 1, Box 120A, Lathrop, Mo. 64465 (ph 816 740-3641).

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