A hay shed near Jamestown, North Dakota, should be planned around the bales it will hold, the equipment that will move them, the site, and the way moisture, ventilation, drainage, and building loads affect the project. Bale type and stacking method provide a starting point for footprint, sidewall height, openings, floor, and access. This guide organizes those decisions so proposals can be compared on the same basis.
Frueh Construction is a general contractor based in Harvey, ND, building pole barns and post frame buildings for agricultural, commercial and residential owners across central North Dakota and South Dakota. To discuss a hay storage building, call 701-693-5765.
What a Hay Shed Needs to Do
A hay shed is intended to protect stored hay from precipitation and ground moisture while providing the storage layout and ventilation appropriate for the operation. Post-frame construction can support large open interiors and tall storage areas, but the clear span, sidewall height, openings, columns, and roof system should follow the engineered building design.
Start With the Bales
Bale Type and Size
Large round bales, large square bales, and small squares use different handling and stacking arrangements. Record the dimensions and approximate weight of the bales you produce or buy, then match the storage layout to the stacking method, aisle needs, equipment reach, and safe operating clearances.
How Much Hay Will Be Stored
Estimate the number of bales the building needs to hold during the storage period, then translate that volume into rows, stacks, aisles, and handling space. If the herd or hay operation may grow, include that expected capacity in the planning assumptions rather than relying on a minimum current count.
Stack Height and Sidewall Height
Taller sidewalls can allow higher stacking or more equipment clearance, but they also affect the building design, materials, openings, wind exposure, and cost. Sidewall height should be checked against the intended stacking plan and the loader or telehandler used to place and retrieve bales.
Moisture, Airflow and Fire
Hay moisture and temperature need to be managed before and during storage because wet or heating hay can create quality and fire concerns. The storage plan should account for bale condition, stack arrangement, ventilation, weather exposure, and how long hay will remain in the building. Open or partly open walls change airflow and weather exposure, while enclosed buildings require a deliberate ventilation approach. The right balance depends on the operation and building design.
Fire-safety, setback, and insurance requirements can affect the site plan, building arrangement, and separation from other structures. The owner should confirm applicable requirements with the relevant local authority, insurer, and project professionals before plans are finalized.
Equipment Access and Door Openings
Equipment access should be planned around the tallest and widest loads that will enter the building, the turning radius of the handling equipment, the door approach, drainage, and winter site conditions. Frueh Construction builds custom bi-fold, overhead and slider doors for barns and machine sheds, and some hay buildings use open fronts instead of doors. Decide which fits your operation before the building is designed.
Floor, Drainage and Site
The floor and base should support the intended storage and equipment use while limiting exposure to ground moisture. Compacted aggregate may fit some storage uses, while concrete may fit projects that need a firm, cleanable surface or heavier equipment use. Frueh Construction provides concrete services for floors and slabs. Whatever floor system is selected, site grading and drainage should direct water away from the storage area, and the site plan should account for overhead lines, buried utilities, setbacks, and equipment access.
If the project also includes livestock facilities, consider how the hay building will relate to feed handling, animal areas, traffic flow, and fire-separation requirements. The cattle shed overview covers the purpose and construction of livestock sheds if a combined layout is on your list.
Engineering, Snow and Wind
The hay shed should be designed for the actual site and project. Snow, wind, soil, frost, exposure, wall openness, occupancy, and local code requirements can affect the structure, so final design values should come from applicable building requirements and engineered plans. The proposal should identify the design criteria being used, the post or column system, what engineering is included, and who is responsible for permits or approvals. Frueh Construction’s framing and post-frame construction page describes laminated columns treated at the bottom and engineer-approved material packages.
Comparing Hay Shed Bids
Two proposals for a similar hay shed can differ because the included scope, site work, openings, structure, floor, utilities, engineering, and finishes are not identical. Compare these items line by line:
- Width, length, sidewall height and whether the sides are open or enclosed
- Door or opening size and type, plus any windows or vents
- Column or post type, trusses, roofing and siding materials
- Site preparation, grading, drainage and floor type
- Electrical or lighting if needed
- Engineering, permits and delivery
- Schedule, cleanup and payment terms
Ask for exclusions in writing and add any owner-supplied work to the comparison. As a general contractor, Frueh Construction can coordinate trades such as electricians and plumbers when that coordination is included in the project scope.
Plan Your Jamestown Hay Shed With Frueh Construction
A hay-shed plan starts with bale volume, stacking method, equipment access, ventilation, drainage, site conditions, and structural criteria. When those assumptions are defined before bidding, contractors can price a more comparable scope and the owner can evaluate differences more clearly. To discuss a hay shed, call Frueh Construction at 701-693-5765.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should a hay shed be?
Size it from the number and type of bales to be stored, the planned stacking arrangement, the equipment used to handle them, aisle and operating clearance, and reasonably expected future capacity.
Should a hay shed be open or enclosed?
Open, partly open, and enclosed designs create different ventilation and weather-exposure conditions. The right choice depends on bale condition, storage layout, site exposure, ventilation plan, and how the building will be used.
Does a hay shed need a concrete floor?
Not always. Compacted aggregate may fit some storage uses, while concrete may suit projects needing a firmer, cleanable surface or heavier equipment use. The floor decision should also account for drainage, moisture, site conditions, and equipment loads.
What should I ask about fire and insurance?
Confirm applicable placement, separation, fire-safety, and insurance requirements with the relevant local authority, insurer, and project professionals before the plans are final.