From baling with stem moisture, to spraying water on the hay prior to baling, the Brackens in Enterprise, Utah, tried it all when it came to baling hay. The Brackens, like many others, were struggling to get any natural dew. In June of 2013, Staheli West set out to prove to the farmers in Enterprise, Utah that they didn’t need dew to make quality hay. All they needed was the steamer.
The Brackens had just purchased 4 brand new balers when they decided to buy the DewPoint hay steamers. They immediately sold two of them, to purchase two steamers. They went from a 6 man operation (4 balers and 2 water trucks) down to a 2 man operation and still get their hay up quicker than ever before. See how the DewPoint machine has benefited them.
The DewPoint 6110 and 6210 Hay Steamers generate steam which is used in the baling process. In many areas of the world, farmers struggle to get natural dew, which makes it hard to produce quality hay. Often, farmers are forced to bale dry hay, which will shatter the leaves. Baling hay too dry results in leaf loss, poor appearance, and ultimately lower value.
For decades farmers have dealt with the age-old problem of too little dew. Some farmers try and bale with stem moisture to compensate for their lack of dew, while others have tried spraying water on hay prior to baling. Baling with stem moisture can be risky and spraying water on cured hay requires more equipment and labor. Not to mention the fact that water doesn’t absorb into hay the way that steam does.
Steam is an extremely effective moisture medium for controlled hydration of hay during the baling process. Farmers using steam will realize greater leaf retention and bale weight, more consistency, and more control over their operation. Steam enables commercial hay growers to bale hay anytime the crop is sufficiently dry, without the need to wait for natural dew.
A Taco Restaurant – Staheli West’s DewPoint machine is a game changer in the agriculture industry, and in the lives of those who use it. Dave Staheli, founder of Staheli West, was a forage farmer himself when he experienced a very difficult situation. It was the summer of 1995 and the weather was hot and dry. Dave was faced with the decision to bale dry hay, or continue to wait and risk further loss of quality. Inspiration came in the recollection of an experience he had at a local taco restaurant and the idea to apply steam to hay was born.
It paid for itself the very first year I owned it. We see rain coming and we just get out and we bale it, and we beat the storm. It’s definitely a huge positive for our operation.
We’ve added about 125 pounds per bale. We’re pulling some out of a 3×4 baler running 1,400 – 1,425 [pounds per bale]. You can walk behind the baler and see the leaf retention.
If you’re looking to get one of these machines, rest easy that it is money well-spent. This machine is going to make life easier on you.