HAY AND BEYOND

[Shammy Davis]

I stole this post by Roguelet from the racing board:

WE are the ones (breeders, owners, and farms) putting in all of the time, effort and money. WE are the ones supporting the industry. WE have to pay the trainer whether they are doing their job or not. WE have to pay the jockey whether he gives us an honest ride or a crap ride. WE are the ones paying $12/bale for hay and shipping it in from other states because of the hay shortage. WE are the ones paying the ridiculous grain price increases. WE do this regardless of whether there is a fan watching or a bet placed, because we do it for the horses.

Thinking about hay, it's really been a struggle for our farm since last Spring because we buy the majority of our hay. I don't think the future looks too much better than what is related to in the above post, no matter what region you may live. With that in mind, thinking that in the past two years we have gone from the idea of "free choice" to "rationing." I thought it would be nice if we could share ideas and thoughts about stretching our forage and grazing resources. I'm open to any comments and ideas.

[aurora]

I'm in NE Oklahoma and the price of hay has gone DOWN from last year because there has been so much rain here this year there is a lot of hay. We bale our own hay, 4 x 5 round bales, and it is selling for $20/bale. This is mixed bermuda / native grass, sprayed and fertilized. These are 700 pound bales. Small squares are $3.50.

[Lisann]

I am still feeding hay free choice inside. This year I'll pay $5/bale (50-60#) for alfalfa mixed with grass. With all the rain we've gotten this year, I am not haying outside right now, may not have to until Nov. I don't feed free choice outside; they usually eat most of what I feed out there. I don't like them to get bored in their stalls.

I've stretched hay in the past by feeding beet pulp.

I am in the middle of farm country here and lots of farmers put up hay. Last year was bad, due to drought, but could still get grass hay for $5/bale. I'm not too worried. I'd be more worried if I lived in CA or somewhere they didn't grow hay.

[Tiz]

CA grows tons of hay. They can get 6 or more cuttings of alfalfa there, and I imagine a respectable number of cuttings of timothy or grass.

[Diane]

Ca has lots of dairies who grow their own for themselves. It's very hot hay so has to be fed carefully. They do sell some to hay brokers I'm sure. I paid $20 per 100lb bale 2 weeks ago for alfalfa/oat/barley mix hay, small lot from the feed store. I then talked to my farmer neighbor who sold me 110lb bales of beautiful oat hay for $13 bale. He's expecting there to be a shortage this winter. The prices are high here b/c we irrigate, water is getting deeper so it costs more to get it out of the ground plus Edison rate hikes are not nice and there are more coming.

[Jenny]

That is why I have not been on the board lately. I have been trying to get all my hay in. We buy anything we can get. round bales, big squares and small squares of timothy, grass, alfalfa mix. Prices seem to be the same as last year. High. Not because of the lack of growing hay, but with all the rain it has been very difficult to get it dry and baled. I think good quality hay will be very scarce this year. I have secured all of my hay and straw for the year. Thank the good Lord!!! Half of which is here and stored for the winter. That is another issue, storage, but I won't get into that right now. We buy a lot of hay and straw we own approx 20 horses of our own so they eat A LOT!!!! I have purchased 3x3x7 big squares 126 of those. 50 5x5 round bales and 104 5x5 round bales of straw! and that is just for starters. I may still need to purchase more round bales of hay. Crazy.

[soft hearted]

That is why I have not been on the board lately. I have been trying to get all my hay in. We buy anything we can get. round bales, big squares and small squares of timothy, grass, alfalfa mix. Prices seem to be the same as last year. High. Not because of the lack of growing hay, but with all the rain it has been very difficult to get it dry and baled. I think good quality hay will be very scarce this year. I have secured all of my hay and straw for the year. Thank the good Lord!!! Half of which is here and stored for the winter. That is another issue, storage, but I won't get into that right now. We buy a lot of hay and straw we own approx 20 horses of our own so they eat A LOT!!!! I have purchased 3x3x7 big squares 126 of those. 50 5x5 round bales and 104 5x5 round bales of straw! and that is just for starters. I may still need to purchase more round bales of hay. Crazy.

JENNY! (sorry, certain other names are just sticking in the forefront right now, not meaning to get you confused and no insult intended!!!)
pm me if you really think you need more hay... I know of some, but it's quite a distance from you - and VERY well worth the cost (low, but transport will raise it)