Frequently asked questions

Often it is. Under section 604.50 of the Florida Statutes, a nonresidential farm building on a farm doesn't have to meet the Florida Building Code, and a barn holding the farm's own hay generally fits. Floodplain regulations still apply, and the county may want paperwork showing the property is a working farm, so check with the building office first.

Humid weather slows drying in the field and lets damp air settle into a stack under cover. Vents along the eave and ridge, a dry floor and a gap between the stack and the walls all help moisture leave the barn. A roof alone won't save hay that went in wet.

Work from the bales. Count how many you store at the fullest point of the year, figure the floor space each one takes the way you stack them, and leave aisles for the loader. Then set the height from how many bales high you stack, plus room to lift the top row without touching the roof framing.

Hay baled before it has dried enough can heat up in the stack as it cures, and in bad cases it gets hot enough to ignite on its own. A dry building won't rescue wet hay. Bale at the right moisture, keep new hay apart from old, check suspect stacks with a probe thermometer, and keep the barn well away from the house and other buildings.

Open sides let air carry heat and moisture out of the stack and let you load from anywhere, but blowing rain soaks the outer bales. Closed walls protect better and need vents to let humid air out. A common middle ground is sheeting the side that faces the worst weather and leaving the rest open.

Tall enough to stack as high as you want and still raise the top bale on a loader or bale spear without hitting the roof frame. If trucks or trailers back in to unload, the door opening and eave also have to clear the load. Measure the loader at full lift before you settle the eave height.

Either can work if the floor stays dry. Bales set straight on bare dirt pull moisture from the ground and the bottom layer spoils. A raised pad of compacted base with good drainage is common, and some owners lay pallets under the first row. Concrete costs more but cleans up easily and suits a barn that also stores equipment.