Reduce hay fire risk, maintain hay quality with HAYTECH

A devastating hay bale fire on Nadine Pesonen’s family farm years ago serves as her constant reminder of the risk of fire on farms, ranches and agribusinesses where hay is stored. She’s turned that experience into a new tool to help prevent similar tragedies.

Pesonen is CEO and co-founder of Quanturi and driver of the development of HAYTECH. A collection of hay temperature probes and a digital cloud-based platform facilitate real-time hay bale temperature monitoring and enhanced awareness on hay condition and quality. That means confidence that hay is in good condition, today and tomorrow.

“At first, I thought this hay fire problem was for my brother and no one else. Then I realized that this is a global problem,” said Pesonen, who started Quanturi in 2016 and launched HAYTECH in 2017 after a fire ravaged her family farm managed by her brother.

Footlong hay probes monitor and record temperatures

Each HAYTECH system comprises footlong hay probes that monitor and record temperatures inside bales. Each probe is connected wirelessly to a cloud-based server where temperature data is logged on a desktop or mobile interface. Probes are sold in quantities of 100 and alert an operator when hay catches fire, facilitating quick action.

“We want to prevent hay fires and predict when a hay fire is going to happen,” Pesonen said. “The platform can tell the operator the status of his or her haystack and alert them to any temperature changes that might indicate a developing problem. Historical data is available to compare what’s happened in the past. You know whether temperature changes are normal or indicate a problem.”

Hay temperature probes provide early detection that helps producers take quick action

The ability to monitor bale temperature in real time also helps growers maintain high-quality hay. Elevated temperature often indicates deteriorating hay quality — including fermentation activity — that can erode feed value. Early detection helps producers take quick action to prevent losses and maintain hay quality.

“If hay gets over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the quality degrades. That temperature doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a hay fire, but you’ll see degraded hay quality. And that’s not good for cows,” Pesonen said. “If animals are not eating properly, they won’t be as healthy and productive.” Pesonen is hopeful the systems will enable growers to evolve their skills into new areas by minimizing what’s historically been a variable that’s difficult to control.

“You can’t do anything about a hurricane or hailstorm. But with fires, you can with the right monitoring and proactive management,” Pesonen said. “HAYTECH helps growers devote energy and effort to ways to improve their operations since they have a new tool to monitor their hay for them.”

Get a 50% discount on HAYTECH

Be among the first 200 U.S. subscribers and enjoy a 50% discount on your HAYTECH system for 3 years. Through an exclusive partnership with Nationwide^®, HAYTECH system “Nationwide packs” are available at a 50% discount. The $99/month cost covers the HAYTECH mobile and desktop apps, 100 Haytech probes, unlimited hay temperature alerts and notifications and technical support.

As the #1 farm insurer in the U.S.*, Nationwide is committed to staying on the leading edge of new tools, practices and technology farmers and ranchers need to success for today and tomorrow. Our partnership with HAYTECH is one of the ways we can help you Protect your next.