Before the Hay season really got going, Dan Newton, of Moonfleet Hay Farms, shared how they have continued to grow a successful hay farming business over the past seven years.
Dan explained the challenges they faced as hay producers in the pursuit of delivering high-quality hay as their standard. He revealed how Moonfleet’s adoption of innovations, like the Chinook Hay Dryer, has allowed them to expand their operations, improve production efficiency, and confidently deliver premium hay to customers across North America. Dan gave candid insights about how they continually adapt to change, and the realities of running a modern agricultural operation.
The primary challenge faced by many hay producers is navigating unpredictable weather, specifically harvesting and storing quality dry hay below 20% moisture. Ideally, hay needs to be at 12% moisture to support confident storage and maintain product quality. Dan explained how he feels the Chinook Hay Dryer tackles this main problem and in fact has helped them to extend their hay season.
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Challenges that drive investing in technology when harvesting and drying wet hay
Dan Newton explained that the purchase of a Chinook Hay Dryer was driven by a need to remove weather-related uncertainty from their hay producing operation. The dryer allows hay to be baled wetter, then safely brought indoors and dried to the target moisture level, improving reliability and reducing stress.
“The best thing for us is having consistency, which was always a struggle and something we’ve tried to increase – being more consistent with our production. Chinook hay dryers have given us that ability to consistently deliver a dry bale. Sometimes with humidity and weather factors it makes it hard for us to get hay dry. So we’ve noticed the biggest thing for us has probably been the consistency in delivering fresh, clean product time and time again.”
Why Chinook?
Dan shared that while proximity played a role, the most important thing for his operation is that they would consistently be provided with superior quality product and service. When Dan realized that Chinook Hay Systems was an ideal solution, and then discovered their headquarters was close by in Alma, ON it was worth the time to check out the product. Dan and his team visited the Chinook facility and were impressed by the system’s design, particularly how the air is pushed directly to the wettest parts of the bale for efficient drying while maintaining bale quality.
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“We’ve noticed a big increase in production and being able to efficiently dry hay has cut our time down by 30% which is a huge thing when we’re running for 2, 3, 4 days straight sometimes. When you’re able to dry 30% more hay in each system, it’s incredible.”
Dan was also spurred by the positive feedback he heard about their unique drying technology, which further motivated him to choose the Chinook system over others. The consistent way the spikes penetrate the bale, drying hay from the inside out, is why it consistently produces superior quality dry hay. Directing the air efficiently toward the areas where most bales remain wet is essential to retaining its integrity. It continues to prove the most suitable for Moonfleet’s operations and throughput volume. Their customer support and understanding come from their roots in farming but also a strong desire to provide a quality product that stands the test of time year after year.
“Working with Chinook and Chris and Orvi has been seamless. It’s been any minor issue we’ve had, it’s nothing but a phone call away and ….if it’s something simple, it’s easy to get walked through on the phone. And a lot of times we’re able to be up and running within minutes. There’s not really any major issues that we ever run into, but it’s all just small sensors. We’ve run it for, like I said, three days at a time and haven’t had a hiccup.”
He called out these key points from their experience working with Chinook:
Adopting this technology has alleviated weather risks
By integrating a Chinook Hay Dryer, they’ve taken much of the uncertainty out of their harvest process, allowing them to dry hay to a safe storage moisture point regardless of the forecast.
“Weather is a constant battle for us, and we’ve always run into difficulties with trying to get hay below 20% with rain coming in the forecast. It’s hard in southern Ontario to get a dry stretch of weather sometimes depending on the summer. ”
Continuous improvement really drives operation efficiency
Collaboration and ongoing upgrades to our operation and equipment, like adjusting heating outputs, has led them to reducing drying time significantly by removing more than 15% moisture in just 10 mins. This significant productivity boost enables them to meet higher demands during the busy seasons.
“I don’t think we’d be able to do half the land that we do without having a Chinook dryer. And over the years, we’ve learned how to use them as a tool and kind of being able to pick and choose where to start and where to finish.”
Partnerships can create unique solutions
Working closely with Chinook Hay Systems, they were more than just buyers, they helped develop custom enhancements that dialed in benefits of using the technology.
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“As we look forward to our seventh season, we’re excited to keep growing—both in acreage and in our commitment to embracing technology that benefits our farm, our partners, and our customers.”
Solid equipment operation and reliability
During especially wet summer conditions, the dryer was run for three straight days, with staff working in six-hour shifts. The Chinook Hay Dryer system handled the workload with ease, and aside from minor, expected wear like the occasional parts replacements, they are able to dry anywhere from 80,000–100,000 bales with minimal upkeep to the equipment.
“Once it’s running, it’s like a well oiled machine. It’s simple. You got to make sure you keep diesel fuel in the tanks…and other than that, you just make sure you keep putting the bales on the ramp and taking them off on the other end.”
A bit about Dan Newton of Moonfleet Hay Farms:
Dan is a dedicated hay producer who long struggled with weather unpredictability and the challenge of getting his hay dry enough for safe storage. Frustrated with the constant battle to drop hay moisture from 20% to a stable 12%, he invested in the Chinook hay dryer. The new technology quickly became his essential tool, giving him confidence that even when the weather turned, he could bale and store hay in the barn, then finish the drying process to perfection. Now, Dan enjoys peace of mind knowing his hay is safe at the ideal moisture level, and many of the worries he’s had have been taken out of haymaking.
“Weather is a constant battle for us, and we’ve always run into difficulties with trying to get hay below 20% with rain coming in the forecast. It’s hard in southern Ontario to get a dry stretch of weather sometimes depending on the summer. So that’s given us the ability to bale the hay a bit wet, bring it inside, and stage it to the point where we can wait for it to go through the dryers.”
From there, take it down to 12%, where we’re comfortable with keeping that hay and providing a clean, nice product for our customers . [ It] ensures product quality and consistency for our clients.”
Dan’s story is a testament to how agricultural innovation and community collaboration creates business success. Whether it’s adapting to the weather, or tweaking technology, his journey shines a light on the challenges and rewards of modern farming.
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