Hay questions

[MarvelVillis]

I recently moved yards and had a large bale of meadow hay delivered from the yard's usual supplier. I was really disappointed with it, it was so dusty - so much so it was making me cough whilst filing some nets. I'll have to start soaking it which will be a pain, but I'm worried about the dust with my gelding being in overnight during winter. I messaged the supplier and explained I wasn't happy with the bale - he apologised and offered discount off my next order. He said he wasn't sure why it was so dusty and that it may have been an outside bale.

I was quite lucky with my previous yard as I got the hay straight from my farmer and it was always lovely quality, and so I never really needed to know about different cuts/types of hay. Anyway, I started looking at some other local hay suppliers and I've got a couple of (stupid) questions about hay.

What is the difference in a hay bale cut from this year compared to last year? i.e is it better to get a 2020 bale or 2019 bale? (I'm wondering if the bale I bought was a 2019 one and maybe I should keep an eye out for 2020 bales instead)
Why causes a bale to become so dusty? Is it the way it is stored and/or age of the bale?

 

[milliepops]

can be how it was stored, how it was made, where it was made, what is in the bale (e.g. some weeds seem to cause an issue) so not just one thing really.
I am using some old hay which is still perfect, smells sweet and isn't dusty, it was made well so correctly dried and has been stored well.
I've had some rubbish bales from headlands which were not as nice, were probably slightly shaded by trees/hedges at the time of making so didn't dry so well. or like you've found you might have had one from the outside of a stack that's been affected by the weather during storage.

I don't think it particularly matters whether its this or last year's hay tbh, goodclean hay will still be good a year on IME. Hopefully as you've raised the issue, the next one will be a good bale.