"Free" Hay from Ontario/Maritimes...???

[dickens]

A word of warning to those picking up their "free" hay - didn't your parents ever teach you all that nothing is truly free? While I am sure that the farmers sending the hay west are all of the best intentions, keep in mind where the final destination of that stretch of pavement leads. I also realize that the situation is desperate in terms of feed. Still, has anyone considered the potential for invasive weeds that are quite foreign to Alberta stowing away in this "free hay"? Surely the hay coming is not choice, weed free forage. Seems to me overgrazed pastures and weedy hay are something akin to gasoline and matches. Just remember that what you don't pay for today may cost you dearly for years to come. Maybe it's better to send the cows to market, cut your losses, and regroup when weather improves then to prolong and perhaps deepen the long-term costs to your already stressed land holdings.

[cakadu]

Perhaps folks in the West don't have the same kind hearted nature as we do in the East. Yes, the chance for weeds is there, but Maritime farmers are not planning on sending their "leftovers" to the West, but good quality, much needed hay that they could have sold for their own profit. We Maritimers tend to think of the best interest of others at all times, whether it be our friends, neighbors or those we don't know. Unlike your own neighbors who are charging skyrocket prices for the stuff, remember we are sending you stuff that we could have profited from, instead we decided to help out those in need.

[tawnyamac]

Please note that the wrong login ID was used on the last thread. I appologize to lynne-adi, but it tawnyamac who the response is from.

[pandiana]

Your warning is noted, dickens, and your fears are probably well grounded regarding the importation of non-native species. Only time will tell whether we will 'pay'. On the other hand, another adage taught at home was 'beggars can't be choosers'. We are truly grateful for the good will expressed by other farms who can relate to our situation. Charity does not reside only the the east however as many in non'drought areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan have stepped in the help out those areas in dire need. Thanks to all who care.

[dalek]

Don't forgot this is being run by farmers here in the east, not politicians. We're keeping an eye on what kind of hay is going on the trains. Most people are donating only the kind of hay that they would feed themselves. I did hear of one guy taking 200 round bales in that would have been better off going to the mushroom farm, and the farmers running that yard sent it back.

[cowman]

The hay from the east is a beautiful gesture and one bright spot in a dismal situation. Not because it will save the Alberta cow herd or for that matter the farmers but because of the heartfelt concern of the people. Your generosity overwhelms us.
Still the fact of the matter is we are in a business and shouldn't have to rely on charity to make it go. If the returns on that business won't pay the expenses then I would suggest it's time to sell the business? It doesn't make much sense throwing good money after bad(or good hay away to keep a cow around for another three weeks!).
There was a good show on CBC news last night about the plight of the farmer in the drought area. One cattle farmer said he couldn't bare to part with his cows as it would be like selling one of his children! Now with an attitude like that this cattle thing is not a business! How can you ever expect to compete with someone like that? So let him blow his life savings to keep his beloved cows! I have little sympathy for someone so foolish. The cow business is becoming just about as silly as owning horses!

[Muttley]

The sending of hay wast is a wonderfull thing from fellow producers in the east!!!
One must remember that not alot is getting to any one producer out here. If you get a semi load of say 30-40 bales and you need 300,400 or more what do you do then?
How much help is this really providing? I'm not trying to sound negative but is there anybody receiving this hay that it will help them to "KEEP" their cows till next year.

[countryguy]

Cowman,your answer to everything concerning the drought is to sell the cows.I think you are forgetting that not everyone else is a millionaire that has another well established business going on the side.

These are very scary times for people.Some of these people have put an entire lifes work into building their herds of livestock.They cannot imagine life anyway else.That is why we're seeing these desperate measures taken,and in some cases tragic ones.

The other thing that is just blowing my mind is the greed that is happening in the west.It is one thing to make a profit,a very healthy profit on something,but the prices that some people are charging are utterly ridiculous.These people should be ashamed of themselves.We have good people from accross the country donating feed while neighbors are scalping neighbors.I wonder if anyone is thinking about who they are going to sell feed to in the future???????

There is no shortage of feed in western Canada,just a shortage of people who care....

[cowman]

A millionaire??? I wish...
I know that people get very attached to animals and it is tough to make changes in this life. But the one thing we can be sure of is change. And like the dinosaurs we either change or become extinct. Right now cattle don't make sense from an economic point of view. Now people can try to hang in there however they wish and maybe it will all turn out okay. But a lot of people have no clue how they are going to feed these cows this winter, I guess they are hoping for a miracle? What happens if we get a really tough winter? We're probably due. I hate to think what could happen to these people who can't bare to part with their cows. I do believe we will hear some horror stories this winter. Starving cattle, crashing markets, suicides. Some people need to face reality. Keep only what you can feed. You can always buy them back next year if you have to. Tommorrow is always a new day; a day of new opportunities!
Do you think I relish the idea of selling my cows? I don't! It will be one of the hardest things I'll ever do. Recently I had to shoot my old dog. I could have let her suffer or even sluffed it off onto the vet. I really loved that old dog, but owning animals also comes with a duty. You have to do the right thing. As my old Dad used to say "If you can't take care of them then don't own them."

[dickens]

A direct response to the following comments from lynne-adi

"Perhaps folks in the West don't have the same kind hearted nature as we do in the East."

Brilliant comment, eh? Yes, that's right, the air out here is bad, and we just are not as friendly as you are, lynne-adi! Thanks for clearing that up. By the way, many of your Maritime neighbours who have come west to find work end up staying, and many I know appreciate the friendly, good natured folks out west. They say it makes them feel at home. For the record, I never said weedy hay was KNOWINGLY being sent out, as if Ontarians/Maritimers were trying to screw their counterparts out west. I did say that the folks sending the hay have the best of intentions. Sheesh! Keep your silly east-west comparisons to yourself! Here's more....

"We Maritimers tend to think of the best interest of others at all times, whether it be our friends, neighbors or those we don't know."

Wow, and I suppose the flip side of that is that those from the west tend to think of the best interest of themselves at all times? Of course not. Bigoted stereotyping we don't need...

For the record, I was not trying to start an east-west war, lynne-adi. I was merely pointing out the reality that there are weedy species growing in central-eastern Canada that are completely foreign to the west, and I felt the risk of bringing in the hay outweighed the (very) short term benefit it might provide to a select group of cattle producers I think you will see many of the "lucky" recipients say "it seemed like such a good idea at the time......."