Seasonal conditions can highlight the problem of showery weather and high humidity causing difficulties in making hay due to crops being unable to be dried sufficiently to bale in these conditions. Continued turning for drying purposes may result in loss of leaf and quality. In many cases, hay ends up mouldy and of poor quality when eventually baled with higher than desired moisture. Further problems with potential fires can arise if moist hay is stacked.

Additionally, when unfavourable seasonal conditions occur, there may be times when “failed” or poor crops that will not achieve high grain yields may be cut for hay. Most of these crops of wheat, barley, triticale, grain legumes or canola contain a mix of leaf, stem and grain heads or pods, resulting in uneven drying and high moisture levels.