Free Hay

[grassfarmer]

The distribution of this Ontario hay is causing me some concern - is a lottery really the best way to do it? Should anyone be getting free hay this year while their neighbour gets none? Should Ontario farmers give it away while some hay farms in Manitoba are doing rather well. How about Alberta Agriculture selling the donated hay at say $150 a ton (or at a figure just under the going market price) and using the proceeds to put towards haulage of even more hay, even if this stuff had to be bought ?. Say 1000 tons at $150 = $150,000 which could maybe contribute $50 a ton to the haulage of another 3000 tons. If it worked and with the continuing help of the railways the scheme might grow and grow and feed even more cows.

[dalek]

I think you're thinking along the right lines. There's already been 6000 tons pledged in Ontario but there's only shipment available for 800 so far so that's all that's going.

[15444]

Don't forget us. Friggin municipalities want every farmer in the damn district to donate between 5 to 6 round bales. Hmm multiply 5 by approx. 250 farmers.....equals a fair amount of hay. And in the end will it really do anything to help you guys? I doubt it.

[dalek]

Check out http://www.tdc.ca/hay.htm

[dalek]

There was extensive discussions on how to fairly distribute the hay. They thought by selling they would be creating a beast within itself. With the demand (over 3500 names) and the logistics of the whole operation it was decided the best means was to give it out free by lottery. The provincial and federal government have had no involvement in the operation. It has solely been run out of the Alliance MP from Crowfoot's riding.

[Muttley]

With anyone able to enter a lottery it may well happen that someone that does not really require the hay may get it.
I myself will have enough hay but only because I am getting rid of a bunch of cows. I will not be entering the draw as I felt that it would be unfare for me to receive it if I won.
Free hay sounds great but only if it's going to help and not prolong the problem or if the person's who get it need it.

[cowman]

I think they put in some safeguards so you had to basically prove you needed it and would actually use it. The guy they interviewed, who got some, had to start feeding it right away. It was going to last about three weeks! Which just might get his calves a little more size but then what? It sounded like he didn't have much of a plan after that.
With the recent rain/snow pastures might bounce back a bit but I doubt it will very much. The growing season is basically over. We certainly don't want to get into a situation where there is suddenly a mad rush to get all the cows killed.
It's too bad the government hadn't put the "relief payments" into a program that encouraged an orderly liquidation of the cow herd. The fact of the matter is we still need to kill a whole lot more cattle or there will be a real wreck this winter.