Measuring Forage Moisture Content Using an Air Fryer

May 12, 2022

By John Jennings

Measuring moisture content of forage cut for hay or silage is an essential step to ensure storage stability and product quality. Hay baled with too much moisture can mold or be subject to spontaneous heating. Silage baled or chopped at moisture contents outside a recommended range may not ferment properly, reducing storage life and animal acceptance. A relatively new method of measuring forage moisture content is through use of an air fryer. this household appliance is basically a small convection oven. it can be used at the farm shop or can be operated in the field from a generator to provide accurate forage moisture readings.

Steps for using an air fryer to measure hay moisture
Materials needed:

air fryer
gram scale
wire screen to hold sample in place during drying (needed on some models)
plate or bowl to contain sample for weighing
calculator

Steps:

Take a core sample from test bales or cut up a representative hay sample into small pieces (less than 1 inch) and weigh 100 grams onto a paper plate.
Pour the sample into the air fryer.
Place a screen over the sample to hold it in place during drying.
Set the air fryer to 250°F for 30 minutes.
Weigh the dried sample and calculate the dry matter content.

Calculating hay moisture
Remember that for 100-gram samples, the number of grams of moisture lost equals the percent moisture.

Example
A 100-gram sample was dried and the final weight was 80 grams

100 – 80 = 20 grams moisture lost = 20% moisture

If other than a 100-gram sample is used, use this equation to calculate hay moisture content:

starting weight (grams) – final weight (grams) / staring weight (grams) x 100 = % moisture

Example
The starting weight was 90 grams and the final weight of the sample is 70 grams. Subtract 70 grams (final weight) from 90 grams (starting weight) to get the amount of moisture lost during drying. Divide the amount of moisture lost by the starting weight and multiply by 100 to get the final moisture percent.

90 – 70 = 20 grams of moisture lost
20/90 x 100 = 22% moisture

Source : osu.edu

Video: When is Sustainable Packaging Coming in the Canadian Agri Food Industry? 3 Critical Perspectives

Canada’s regulatory landscape on single-use plastics is complex but a recent ruling by the Federal Court of Appeal sided with the government’s intent to eliminate single-use plastics. What does this mean for the Canadian agri-food industry? How can companies find the right balance between regulatory compliance and implementing costly alternative solutions? What are retailers and consumers saying about sustainable packaging? This webinar features Joshua Goodman, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Sobeys; Marie-Anne Champoux-Guimond, Director of Sustainability, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada and Glenford Jameson, Canadian Food Lawyer, G.S. Jameson and Company

This 60-minute webinar brings together three industry leaders to examine the opportunities, challenges, and realities of the path forward. In this session, you will gain insights into:

•Canada’s regulatory roadmap and timeline on eliminating single-use plastics

•Current end-of-life solutions for plastics and alternative packaging solutions

•The need to have a corporate strategy that aligns with reality at the retail shelves

•How major brands and retailers are pivoting

•Supply chain considerations

•Common misconceptions