How are the Alberta hay crops?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Need to start putting a price on some hay, but not real sure what is out there for supply. I've read and heard that North of here ( here being west central Alberta, west of Red Deer) all the way to the Peace country it has been too dry and hay will be poor, is that accurate? I am assuming that East and South have very good hay crops, with the unseasonal rain and winter snowfall, is that right?

I know there is very little reserve left after the past 2 winters, there was still more hay torn up than seeded down around here this year. Fertilizer was expensive this spring so I doubt that much was applied to hayland, at least that is true around here. And there may just be more cows to feed this year.

Here, all we need is lots of snow and a late spring to grow good hay crops, we had both and we have very good hay crops, just a challenge picking them up off the ground after all of the hail.

[ALLFARMER]

I think more cows to feed is highly speculative at this point.

The Grande Prairie cattle auction market is in the process of being leveled.

When figuring the price of hay consider current land rental rates, the price of a modern tractor, diskbine, rake, baler.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Wouldn't it be great if the market actually cared about my COP.
I'm just trying to find out what the supply is.

[sjc]

Im in NE Ab and the crops are variable. I had some way less then last year (due to mainly the alfalfa getting winter killed) but the grass hay fields were actually better then last year. So overall I think its average. I check the Ropin the Web site under the general store section to get an overview. You see the extreme dairy type hay to the average beef hay all across the province. Beef prices are strong so the bottom is probably higher this year then most years. Diesel certainly didnt get any cheaper!

[TOM4CWB]

From what I hear around there was plenty of hay put up in the first few weeks of July in nice shape in north of Red Deer areas.

[rook]

NW of Edmonton good first cut and good quality. Likely too dry for a good second cut. I was in the peace this summer and they are drying out, at least in areas around Fairview. Cattle market is strong but there are less cattle and less cowboys bidding for hay. I agree, tough to figure out the market.

[Horse]

Sold some 3cents good hay no rain, they pick up themselves. May get more in oct but who knowas. There is good chance of light bly and that would affect hay prices. I know I cant make hay for 3cent but you take what the market offers. next yr I wont cut any unless it is spoken for. Around here about 1.5/ to 2 ton per acre.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

This spring nearly everyone was running out of hay around here. People were calling me begging for anything, asking if I had 3 or 4 yr old hay for sale, at any price. I couldn't commit to anymore sales at that point as I had to feed our cows as first priority. So I would offer to sell them cheap barley instead. No takers, not sure if people aren't very good at math or just don't want to have to get out of their heated tractor to feed cows? Actually I know they are not good at math, I've tried selling hay by the pound, it is futile, all anyone cares is how much per bale, doesn't matter what size or weight of bale.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Last year it really paid to hold the hay through the winter, all those folks that bought last winter, now want to lock it up sooner this summer. Not sure which will be the right strategy this year.

[grassfarmer]

West of Rimbey its been very dry this year but we still have reasonable hay crops - that snowpack grew a lot of early grass. Second cuts will be light and not at all for later cut stuff. I hear demand is good for hay though. I hear they are short in the
Coronation/Hanna/Oyen areas after having several wet years for that country.