Hay Prices

[coppertop]

good points Cattleman. One positive for putting up one's hay is that the producer knows what it in it, sometimes buying hay is a roll of the dice.
Acquiring more cattle doesn't happen at the snap of a finger, it costs money to own them and many people aren't set up to custom graze in conjunction with their own cattle operation.

Farmers and ranchers do what they feel works best for them, I always look to the producers that have stayed in the industry for years and learn from their experience. People don't remain in the cattle business and stay solvent by accident.

[grassfarmer]

Cattleman, "If you start losing in too many years, then you re-assess your situation" - that makes a lot of sense but unfortunately in too many cases I don't see it happening. Too many old, old guys are stuck in the industry beyond an age they can change their thinking. I have a neighbour who is over 80 and he was out cutting hay in an old open top tractor the last day it was 32C!

[Cattleman]

I totally agree grassfarmer that people are stuck in their ways, but those not willing to change are just making things tougher on themselves. As for running grassers I think that is critical to a sustainable intensive grazing system, as they can harvest excess grass, and are easily disposable. In dryer years it may be just better not to get the grass cattle, and maybe harvest excess hay as it will likely be worth something then.

[coppertop]

many older farmers have never carried a debt load and likely it hasn't been feasible for them to plunk down cash on the barrelhead for new equipment.

I have dealt with many older cattle producers and when they came to buy a bull they paid in cold hard CASH, not a check but cash !!

You have to give the 80 year old farmer a lot of credit for being active enough to be out cutting hay at that age. I think if we are open minded we can learn a lot from thee xperiences of others in farming, new ideas plus experience garnered through years of farming can be invaluable.

[Willowcreek]

Talked to a fellow yesterday that bought some hay from the Rock Glen area- Paid $50 (American) a Ton and they will deliver it to his place 40 miles south of the border....

[food4u]

My son in law has several hundred round (5x5.5)hay bales for sale in west central Sask. He can be contacted at 306-573-2087.

[Willowcreek]

food4u-- I'll give that number to a couple of people that have called me looking for hay..We've sold about all we can justify letting go right now- and will have to see what we get from a second cutting before we decide if we can sell anymore...

A lot of dryland and CRP hay wasn't worth cutting this year so some just south of the border are a looking...

[WoolyBear]

Willowcreek.......

Any hay heading south will have to be attached to an OTM cow before I'll send any.

[Willowcreek]

Woolybear- quote "Any hay heading south will have to be attached to an OTM cow before I'll send any."

I say go for it- form a national movement...

I wish that would happen..I had to cut back on amount of hay produced because of all the cheap Canadian...Couple years of subsidized Canadian hay selling for $20 Ton cut into the local hay production...

If no-one up there sells to the states- I'd have 350 Ton of year old that I want $45 Ton for that would sell in a minute then- maybe even get $50...

[WoolyBear]

God Bless a Capitalist-protectionist America.

Don't know where you ever get the idea that any of our hay is subsidized.