Menzie: So, for the knowledgeable hay-stackin' folks out there, I have a question. If you noticed your haystacks were getting hot, or smelling like caramel... wouldn't it make sense to spread the hay out; i.e., disassemble the stack, to let the heat dissipate?

Yup. This guy is apparently not super bright.

bigredmoose: 'Cause why else would a charity want them?

So they can clean them, sort them, bag them and sell them back to krewes for the next Mardi Gras.

DrumCorpsAlum: I grew up on a horse racing track in the steeplechase capital of the world, Camden, SC. There is a pile of horse shiat that is massive, and they keep adding to it. If you go near it, it's like going near an oven. It's hot to the touch constantly from breaking down. Hell, even my mom's compost heap is pretty damn hot.

Why are you touching horse poo? :(

fotbr: bigredmoose: Rain, hot temperatures and wind all contributed to this fire

Ummm, I'm no arsonist or anything, but I'm pretty sure the first one there does the opposite of contribute to fire.

And you'd be wrong in this case.

Wet hay/grass/organic matter decomposes faster and builds up both heat and flammable gases. I have seen piles of cut grass burst into flame a few times in the past.

Menzie: So, for the knowledgeable hay-stackin' folks out there, I have a question. If you noticed your haystacks were getting hot, or smelling like caramel... wouldn't it make sense to spread the hay out; i.e., disassemble the stack, to let the heat dissipate?

The thing that you need to know is that a haystack on fire from SC just usually smolders along due to the lack of oxygen in the middle of the haystack. Opening it up allows extra oxygen into the stack and can help to spread the fire if not done correctly.

If you notice a smell or can feel heat, it is already too late. It is on fire. If you want to prevent SC, you need to place temperature probes in the middle of the haystack, and if you know any farmers, you know that the likelyhood of this happening is about nil.

Joce678: maxheck: And of course, that thought led to fat people with exploding pants.

I feel a myth coming on...

The Mythbusters tested the exploding pants myth, but ala the farmer who had his pants soaked with various chemicals.

How can fat people sneak up on anything? What, with the tuba music following them around and all.

Don't worry - Narzan will save you!

sandn8r9: What? No love yet for the awesome headline? Nicely done, subby.

You have to be kidding. That headline was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

/subby
//not proud of what I did

I'm standing on a pile of hay right now, so i'm getting a kick.....

So, yeah, pretty simple.

To my hay farming friends in Idaho. Watch the weather forecast before you cut. If you're going to cut within a week of raining- Don't

/hay farmer for too long.
//burnt hay doesn't sell well.