Hay-drying agents also are on the market and have been proven to shorten the drying time of legume hays. But, if humidity, air temperatures, and air movement are not conducive to good drying, chemical agents are not very effective. That is why drying agents have not been very effective on first and last cuttings of legumes--a time when drying enhancement is most needed.
One important difference between hay-drying agents and preservatives
is the time of application. Hay-drying agents are put on at the time of
hay cutting, rather than at the time of baling. Also, drying agents do not
contain a mold-inhibitor.