Hay sheds are always valuable infrastructure at this time of the year – and the recently completed project at Patchewollock storing 4000 hay bales is a great example.
Setting your farm up with on-farm storage ahead of harvest is great forward thinking and a proven way to future-proof your business. It helps provide options and opportunities regardless of how the season plays out.
For example, having the capacity to store several thousand bales on-farm may give you the confidence to cut a damaged crop for hay. Or take advantage of an opportunity such as a shortage of high-quality shedded hay on the market.
Throughout the year, hay shed infrastructure can be used for machinery storage or retrofitted for fertiliser storage. These are both great ways to maximise the return on investment.
With harvest well underway, we have been busy signing off hay sheds across eastern Australia and it has been fantastic to see them getting put to good use.
In this article, we discuss a 4000-bale shed built for an existing client in the Mallee for the 2024 hay season – and explore why the shed works so well.
4000 Bale Hay Shed Project Overview
Configuration: A three-sided “open-front” configuration with a cantilevered canopy on the open side.
Size: 64m (L) x 24m (W) x 9m (H) with 8m canopy.
Capacity: Stores 4,000 plus bales. You can use the hay shed calculators to work out what size hay shed you need, here – Farm Shed Calculators
Build Date: October 2024
Location: Patchewollock VIC. Download the Mallee Farm Sheds Brochure to learn about other Action sheds in the area.
Storing 4000 bales? Working to a budget? No problems!
The 64m x 24m hay shed is a classic design – and this particular project is a great example of how to maximise capacity and lower the storage cost per bale
So, what makes it work so well?
Let’s find out!
7 Reasons Why This 4,000 Bale Hay Shed Works
A well-planned project is usually the secret to success. Several details were addressed in the planning stage that make this hay shed work – from site preparation to creating a cost-effective design.
Read on to learn what makes this project a good option for storing 4000 hay bales.
1
Increasing The Height
While the 64m x 24m hay shed kit is a common choice, it typically has a height of 7.5 metres which allows bales to be stack 8 high.
However, for this project, the kit shed design has been tweaked and the height increased to 9 metres.
This serves two main purposes.
Firstly, increasing the height of the shed is a cost-effective way to increase the capacity of the shed compared to either increasing the length or width of the shed.
A hay shed height of 9 metres allows the hay bales to be stacked 9 high with a telehandler.
If you do choose to increase the height of your hay shed it is important to have safety measures in place.
So, ensure that telehandler operators are qualified and licensed, and the storage area is set up appropriately. For example, create exclusion zones and install signage.
Other safety recommendations when loading and unloading a hay shed include making sure you have clear vision when handling hay, stable haystacks and good situational awareness.
Secondly, it is a good idea to increase the height of the shed to provide additional clearance when there is a canopy. This is because a canopy typically decreases the clearance height by around 500mm.
Plus, increasing the height is also a good way to future-proof your shed as machinery isn’t getting any smaller!
2
Using Standard Bay Spacings
If you are looking to create a hay shed design that is both cost-effective and practical, there are several standard bay spacings that are a good place to start.
This hay shed project uses the popular 8-metre-wide bay which allows you to stack three big bales across, between the columns. This is an efficient use of space and provides good airflow between the bales.
If you are looking for ways to customise this design for your project, you could consider upsizing the bay spacing to 8.5 metres wide. While this doesn’t increase the capacity of the shed it does provide more “wriggle room” to make loading and unloading the shed easier and less stressful.
Increasing the bay size to 8.5 metres is often a good idea if you intend to use your hay shed for machinery storage at some stage. And because it doesn’t add much to the overall project cost, it can be a cost-effective way to create a versatile shed.
3
Extra Coverage With A Canopy
As we mentioned earlier, there are several ways this hay shed design lowers the storage cost per bale.
One way being the increased shed height, which we have already discussed. Another way is the addition of a cantilevered canopy.
A cantilevered canopy has many benefits, and one of the main benefits is that a canopy is a cost-effective way to gain some extra storage space.
For example, the combination of the 24-metre span and 8-metre canopy is more cost-effective than a 30-metre span hay shed.
In this case, a canopy has been effectively used so that the shed can be used for easily storing 4000 hay bales – or more!
As well as being a handy storage area, a canopy provides extra weather protection and a sheltered area to pull your truck up in wet weather.
4
Choosing A Standard Span
The first step to creating a cost-effective farm shed design, whether it is a 4000-bale hay shed, a chemical shed or a fertiliser shed, is to choose a standard span.
Choosing a standard span size means your shed will be manufactured faster, saving you money and shortening the lead time.
This hay shed design doesn’t just use a standard span size, it takes it a step further by using arguably the most popular standard size – the 24-metre span.
One of the reasons why the 24-metre span is so popular is because, as well as providing cost-savings, it also works well for machinery storage. For example, the width provides excellent coverage for a semi and the 8-metre canopy on this project means there is ample coverage for a b-double too.
This helps create a multi-use shed, providing you with good value for money.
You can learn more about standard spans and how they can save you money, here – What Are The Standard Spans For Farm Sheds?
5
Opting For An Open-Front Configuration
We often say it, but it is hard to go wrong with an open-front shed! And that is certainly true for hay shed projects like this one.
In fact, the open-front shed configuration is the most effective way to protect your hay from weather damage, while still ensuring the hay can be easily accessed and that there is good airflow around the bales.
Another advantage of the open-front hay shed is that it can be easily customised – and we have already discussed several examples such as height, bay spacings, and canopies.
To customise your open-front hay shed design, you could consider installing sliding doors in the back wall or gable end – or both! This makes it much easier to access the hay at the back of the shed for testing or if you are unloading.
Sliding doors are also a good addition when storing machinery in the shed as you don’t have to empty the shed to access the machinery at the back. You could also consider enclosing bays in the future to create a workshop area.
You can learn more about open-front sheds and whether they are a good fit for your project, here – Open Bay Sheds: Pros, Cons & Prices
And watch the video below, to learn how John Bennett created a versatile open-front hay shed with concrete panels.
6
Taking Advantage Of Custom Gutters
While a custom gutter system is a standard inclusion on all Action sheds, it is particularly valuable on large-scale hay sheds like this project.
This is because the system allows the downpipes to be plumbed to either end rather than down the face of the column. There are several advantages to this.
Firstly, it protects the downpipes from being damaged by machinery. This saves the time, hassle and money of having to replace these.
Secondly, it helps prevent dry matter loss and weather damage to your hay by keeping the stormwater run-off from entering your hay shed.
Plus, a hay shed roof provides an excellent opportunity to capture and store stormwater.
For example, as well as storing 4000 hay bales, this hay shed could capture around 690,176 litres per year, based on the Patchewollock’s average annual rainfall of 336.9 mm!
You can use the stormwater calculator below to work out how much you could capture of your shed roof.
Rainwater Harvest Calculator
If you are wondering about the volume of rainwater you could potentially collect from a shed roof, use the stormwater calculator.
And finally, a standout detail of this project is the site – don’t underestimate the importance of a good site location and good shed pad preparation!
7
A Well-Prepared Site
The shed site can make or break a project.
The site for this hay shed has been well prepared which ensured that installation wasn’t held up – and it also keeps the shed accessible year-round, even in wet weather,
Attention has also been paid to site access with well-prepared access roads, plenty of room for safe loading and unloading and turning circles. As well as improving site safety, this helps improve logistics, which is particularly important at busy times of the year like harvest.
It is also a smart idea to take into consideration any future shed projects or expansions when preparing your shed site. This can help prevent the site from becoming cramped and dysfunctional.
Watch the video below for some handy tips on shed pad preparation
So, that’s a wrap on seven reasons why this project has been a success!
Read on to access a handy price guide and a photo gallery for the project.
If you aren’t sure if this design is right for you, we also provide some other size options and ideas for storing 4000 hay bales.
Hay Shed Project Price Guide
As a guide, you could expect to pay between $280,000 and $350,000 including GST, delivery and installation for a similar project in 2024.
Please note that this price range is a guide only to help you with your budgeting.
The cost for your hay shed project would depend on your location and how you decide to customise the design.
For an idea of how prices can vary from project to project, check out our hay shed kit price list – 9 Of The Best Hay Shed Kit Sizes & Prices
For an accurate costing of your hay shed project, simply submit a REQUEST A QUOTE or call us 1800 687 888 – we would be happy to help!
Project Gallery
What Are My Options For Storing 4000 Hay Bales?
The 64m x 24m x 9m hay shed with a canopy is a great option for storing 4,000 hay bales – it is cost-effective, practical, versatile and easily customised.
But we understand that doesn’t necessarily mean it will suit your storage requirements. Or you might just like to weigh up your options.
Here are several hay shed kit sizes you could consider for your project:
- A 72m (L) x 24m (W) x 7.5m (H) hay shed stores approx. 4,100 bales
- A 64m (L) x 27m (W) x 7.5m (H) hay shed stores approx. 4,000 bales
- A 72m (L) x 27m (W) x 7.5m (H) hay shed stores approx. 4,500 bales.
And remember, our building consultants are available to provide pricing and a cost-per-bale figure to help you determine which will be the most cost-effective option for your hay storage.
We have also collated some handy articles and resources to help you with your project planning, whether you are storing 1000 hay bales or storing 4000 hay bales.
Check them out below.
Useful Resources
So, that’s a wrap on the 4000 bale hay shed! We hope this example has given you plenty of ideas for your project!
Ready to get your project underway? Or need more information on options for storing 4000 hay bales? Call us – or submit a quote request and we will be in touch!
