The venom of the black widow spider contains poisonous chemicals that make people sick. Black widows are found throughout the United States, mostly in the South and West. They are usually found in barns, sheds, stone walls, fences, woodpiles, porch furniture, and other outdoor structures.
Some types of grass hay, in dry weather conditions or on dry ground, will be much too dry when baled as small bales using the eight to 15 percent moisture (the traditional rule of thumb) as a guide. Some of this grass hay produces the best quality bales when baled at 24 to 30 percent moisture.
Maintaining forage quality and reducing mold growth was achieved by baling dry (12%) hay or wrapping, regardless of initial moisture, round bales of orchardgrass hay. Therefore, the current moisture threshold of 15% for safe storage of other hays also is appropriate for orchardgrass.