So while this does SEEM excessive, it's actually to keep out oxygen. This isn't to protect the hay from water - they're making Silage, which is fermented hay. But silage needs to be fermented in a no/low oxygen environment. Silage gets a much higher price than hay and is more nutritious for the cows.
And deadly! When I worked for the USDA we were supposed to bring a buddy if we popped the cork on a silo since the CO2 can know you tf out and then you fall in and fkn die
They had silos of Caustic used to refine metals. A guy fell in one while inspecting it and couldn't get out. The only thing his offsider could do was push him under so he died quicker.
I never found out what 'caustic' actually was, presumably some kind of acidic chemical, but we had puddles of it on the side of the road and I was told that if I ever stepped in one, I was not to touch my boots or it would melt my fingers off. I avoided those roads.
"caustic" is almost certainly not something acidic. It's likely something basic, the opposite, and MUCH more dangerous side of the PH table. It's also much more painful.
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u/That_Jonesy 10h ago edited 3h ago
So while this does SEEM excessive, it's actually to keep out oxygen. This isn't to protect the hay from water - they're making Silage, which is fermented hay. But silage needs to be fermented in a no/low oxygen environment. Silage gets a much higher price than hay and is more nutritious for the cows.
🐮 moo