100 mL per tonne. Same setup as a propionic sprayer.
Application is straightforward, but the details matter. Here's the practical guide — equipment, dilution, timing, and the few things that can go wrong.
The basics
✓ Confirmed Application rate: 100 mL of HayRite per tonne of hay (per product label).
✓ Confirmed Method: Liquid applied via baler-mounted sprayer, wetting the windrow as it enters the pickup.
✓ Confirmed Withholding period: None when used as directed.
✓ Confirmed Compatible equipment: Standard baler-mounted sprayer systems used for chemical preservatives. No specialized equipment required.
Equipment setup
If you're already running a propionic-acid sprayer on your baler, you can use the same setup for HayRite. The only differences:
- Flush the system thoroughly before switching from chemical to biological. Acid residue will kill the bacteria.
- Calibrate the rate. 100 mL/tonne is much less concentrated than typical propionic application rates (which are often 0.5–1% by weight). Adjust your sprayer's flow rate accordingly.
- Dilute with clean water. Most operators run a 1:10 to 1:50 dilution for even coverage. The ratio depends on your sprayer's nozzle pattern and tonnage rate.
⊙ Field Knowledge If you don't have a baler-mounted sprayer yet, an electric or PTO-driven sprayer kit is the typical investment. Most ag equipment dealers carry suitable units.
Dilution and water quality
✓ Confirmed Use clean, cool water for dilution. Chlorinated municipal water at typical residual levels (0.5–2 ppm) is fine. Heavily chlorinated water (above 4 ppm) can suppress bacterial activity.
⊙ Field Knowledge Avoid using water from sources that may carry contamination — standing pond water, water from old hoses with mould inside, or water that's sat in a hot tank for days.
Application timing
Apply HayRite at baling, not before or after. The bacterial population needs to establish on the hay surface before the bale is closed.
⊙ Field Knowledge Operators sometimes ask about pre-cutting application or post-baling spray. Neither works. Pre-cutting application doesn't survive field exposure; post-baling spray doesn't penetrate the bale interior where it's needed.
Apply across the full moisture range you'd typically bale at. The product is designed to extend the safe upper-moisture boundary, not to replace good baling judgment.
Storage and shelf life
✓ Confirmed Store HayRite between 41°F and 86°F (5°C to 30°C) in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, with the container sealed when not in use (per HayRite product label).
✓ Confirmed Shelf life: 12–24 months under the storage conditions above.
⊝ Field Knowledge If you've stored HayRite through a hot summer in an uninsulated shed where temperatures pushed past 100°F repeatedly, expect some efficacy reduction. The spores tolerate ordinary fluctuations but extended high-temperature exposure narrows the shelf-life window. When in doubt about a partly-used jug from last season, ask us — we can help you decide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Tank-mixing with propionic acid — the acid kills the bacteria.
- Storing diluted HayRite for days before use — dilute fresh, ideally same-day.
- Applying at way-too-high moisture — even HayRite has limits. Above ~28% moisture, you may need a chemical preservative instead.
- Skipping calibration — 100 mL/tonne is the rate. Under-application leaves the hay unprotected; over-application is wasted product.
Continue learning
Read about how the bacterial mechanism works, or get safety and SDS information.
How it worksSafety & SDS