What makes hay good or bad?
Quality depends on plant type, maturity at cutting, weather during curing and storage. Good hay is leafy, fine stemmed, green or green-tan, smells sweet and is free of mold, dust, weeds and foreign objects.
Poor hay may be stemmy, brown, dusty, moldy, full of weeds or contaminated. Moldy or dusty hay can harm animals, especially horses and young stock, so do not feed hay you doubt. Weeds in hay can be harmful, so ask the seller what is in the field and check for anything unfamiliar. If you cannot identify a plant, ask your extension office and do not feed it until you know. Smell is a useful clue. Sour, musty or sweetly fermented smells point to mold or heating, while a clean, grassy smell points to hay cured well.
What should I ask a hay seller?
Ask the type of hay, the cutting, when it was cut and baled, how it was stored and whether it has been tested. Ask about weed control, and whether it was rained on.
Ask to see the bales in person, and open a few. Check the center of the bale as well as the outside.
Find out how it is priced, how it is delivered and whether the seller will stand behind the quality. Buy from a seller you can visit again. Sellers who value repeat customers tend to be honest about quality.
- Type and cutting
- Date baled and how stored
- Rain exposure
- Weeds and contaminants
- Testing results
Should I test the hay?
A forage test measures the nutrient content of hay, and it can help you decide how to feed and whether supplements are needed. Your county extension office can explain how to take a sample and where to send it.
Test results help you compare hay from different sellers and decide what your animals need. Your veterinarian or extension nutrition specialist can help read the results. A test also gives you a baseline, so you can track how hay from different fields and cuttings compares year to year. Bring a clean bag or sample probe if your extension office offers one, and take cores from several bales so the sample represents the lot.
How should I buy and budget for hay?
Estimate how much you need for the whole feeding season, then add margin. Buying early in the season can mean better choices, while buying late in a short year can be costly.
Budget categories include the hay itself, delivery, labor to stack and move it, storage space, tarps or barn costs, and losses. Ask local sellers for current prices instead of relying on general figures.
Compare cost by feed value, not by the price of a bale. Buying in a bulk load can lower the cost per bale, but only if you have the space to store it properly. Wasted hay costs more than a higher price.
How do I store hay safely?
Store hay in a dry, ventilated place off the ground and out of rain and snow. Barns and sheds are best, and covered stacks on pallets or gravel can work.
Hay that is baled too wet can heat on its own and may catch fire. Do not stack hay you think is damp, and ask your extension office about safe moisture limits. If a stack smells strongly of smoke or feels hot, keep away and call your fire department.
Keep hay away from heat sources and electrical equipment. Fire departments see hay fires every year. Ask yours how to store hay safely, and keep a clear way for them to reach your barn.
How do I reduce losses and keep stored hay in good shape?
Losses come from rain, ground moisture, mold, rodents and poor handling. Stack neatly, leave air space and use older hay first.
Check the stack periodically for mold, odor and heat. Remove and discard bad bales, and keep them away from animals.
Keep records of what you buy, when it was cut and how animals do on it. Rodents can ruin bales and attract predators. Keep feed bins sealed and the area tidy.
What should I do before buying hay this year?
Estimate your season's need with help from your extension office, then call two or three sellers and visit them. Ask the questions on your list, open bales and write down what you see and smell.
Prepare storage before the load arrives. Clear space, lay pallets or gravel, arrange a cover and decide where you will keep the first bales you open. Buying with a plan is cheaper than buying in a hurry.
Key takeaways
- Look, smell and open bales before you buy.
- Ask sellers about type, cutting, storage and rain.
- Consider a forage test for nutrient content.
- Budget by category and compare by feed value.
- Store dry and ventilated, and watch for heat and mold.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.