Hay Prices

[rain]

What is the hay crop like. I would think hay prices will be similar to last year. I am curious to hear how good or bad the crop is and to hear what hay is trading for right now?

[rodbradshaw]

Started cutting hay yesterday in hopes of getting some rain in the future and a chance at a decent second cut. Last years seedings are marginal at best. Older crops (4 ) are very patchy, the best seem to be crops seeded in 2000 as they got established and have weathered the drought.

We have CPS wheat and barley in flag leaf or headed out and it is a foot tall. Silage will take at least twice the normal acreage at best. Straw will be at a premium.

Neighbour finished haylage yesterday, twenty more acres - 20 fewer loads as compared to 2001.

[rodbradshaw]

Do you think $165/ton for first cut is out of line, Rod. VJV had old and new rounds for $81-$107/bale. If a 1300lb bale that equates to $125-$170/ton.
May seem ridiculous but crops 20-50% of normal.

[rodbradshaw]

At 165 a ton a farmer could feed alot of barley and straw.
We are going to explore the option of pellets or cubes as they come with a feed analysis and it sure beats buying a pig in a poke at the auction mart.
Southern alberta will have lots of hay and it should be a lot more reasonable than the prices we are seeing for hay in the drought stressed areas.

Anyone else have any input?
Rod

[TOM4CWB]

Rod,

Straw could be difficult to find, as the year grinds on, less and less straw is being created because of the lack of rain...

It still is not too late for the rains to come, to produce straw through second growth in the cerial crops, last year the 18-30th of July made a 60% increase in our straw yeilds, when 5 inches fell in that time period.

It didn't help our hay yields much though, probably the reason why we still have half a ton yeild in many places this year...

It had better rain soon, or livestock producers from Calgary north will be in serious trouble, along with grain growers... and mushroom farmers... and chicken farmers who need bedding, but the poultry people could shift to shavings.

The Potato growers are being destroyed as well... this is a really sad situation

A local dairy farmers who is also a large grain grower is going to silage 100% of his feild crops, and still doesn't have enough on his own without more... and what about next years feed... farmers are starting to talk about 7 years of famine...

This may be why some are dumping cow/calf pairs so cheap... dispair...

It is sure nice the irrigation people will have hay, and forage, at least our whole ag economy won't be lost...

Which brings the question of whether the Ab, gov. should be helping nothern Alberta develop some irrigation systems, like they did the south in the beginning, and still do...?

[rodbradshaw]

Tom
It is getting quite critical here although they are talking rain in the forecast for Tuesday which is a great improvement over the past forecasts. I agree that straw is going to be worth more than grain and the price of shavings will be ramped up if everyone charges out at the last minute to try and get some. Was south of Strathmore yesterday and the Irrigated hay crops looked good and most was done or being baled.

[melvill]

This'll make you shake your head. Local hay farmer sold all his first-cut hay (80% grass-20% alfalfa) for $130/ton in the field for large round bales. Said the buyer didn't even blink an eye when he asked that price. Granted that is only one sale but . . . . highway 2 corridor horse people are coming to Brooks bidding $160/ton for small square bales in the field. Cattle people from the Hanna area are sniffing around here encouraging people to sell barley for greenfeed rather than silage or grain. They'll bring equipment here to cut and bale. Things and people are desperate!

[TOM4CWB]

Lee,

I heard through a neighbour that some in Medicine Hat can't get the 4.00/square, cost about 1.00/bale to haul to central AB, 65lb bale...

Big cattle sales going on, sad, not enough buyers, suicides, according to Inspector...

Rainfall June 1 - July 31 puts this spring had 96mm as the lowest rainfall since 1961, 250mm high, and we have had about average of 15mm since June 1... at Edmonton farm!

[melvill]

More reliable (and reasonable) hay prices coming out now. First-cut alfalfa-grass, from Brooks, in large round bales delivered two hours from Brooks at $132/ton. I talked to a local hay broker and he's paying farmers 110 to 120 for first cut hay - price depending on quality - % alfalfa, rain, weeds, etc.

[rodbradshaw]

Heard that you can get hay delivered to Red Deer area for about $165-170 per ton. This is suppose to be good quality and have heard of people paying $200 per ton delivered. Some crops in our area are half up your tigh if you are on your knees as most producers seem to be today. Straw is going to be short and a lot of people are exploring shavings but their is not an unlimited supply and sooner or latter the price of them will start to increase. People in the Innisfail areas are starting to cut cereals for silage and or greenfeed to try and save what they've got. We finished haying yesterday and it was a little better than last year but the cost per ton has gone up as we increased our fertilizer rates believing that we were in for a more normal year. Next Year?