Friday Crop Report on a Thursday!

[grassfarmer]

I have been wondering about turning one of these leafcutter fields into bales for feed , what do you think? are we to far away ? dehy is another option , probably pay $80-$120 /ac ifn it rains at all ?
does anyone buy standing alfalfa or again are we to far away ?

Don't know your area or what the market is like for feed. If you get 3 bales/acre @1500lb @4c/lb that's $180/acre, allow $20/bale to get it made custom if you don't want to touch it yourself. Potentially $120/acre if the yield and weather cooperate but not without risk either. At 4c/lb you would have had guys prepared to haul it all over the prairies last year - most here was 6-8c/lb, a lot over 10c/lb in Alberta.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Don't know your area or what the market is like for feed. If you get 3 bales/acre @1500lb @4c/lb that's $180/acre, allow $20/bale to get it made custom if you don't want to touch it yourself. Potentially $120/acre if the yield and weather cooperate but not without risk either. At 4c/lb you would have had guys prepared to haul it all over the prairies last year - most here was 6-8c/lb, a lot over 10c/lb in Alberta.

Guys are in full panic mode around here about the feed situation, and how dry it is. Just got a call from auction mart still looking for hay, 160 to 180+ per bale ( and around here, it seems that a bale is a bale, regardless if it is 4 feet tall or 6'6" and tight). Might be able to remove some of the risk from that equation, and presell a portion of your production right now, while demand is still high. Bales are being trucked hundreds of miles.

[GDR]

Guys are in full panic mode around here about the feed situation, and how dry it is. Just got a call from auction mart still looking for hay, 160 to 180+ per bale ( and around here, it seems that a bale is a bale, regardless if it is 4 feet tall or 6'6" and tight). Might be able to remove some of the risk from that equation, and presell a portion of your production right now, while demand is still high. Bales are being trucked hundreds of miles.

I wonder how long it can go on though? Had 2 years of huge feed costs, would think if its dry again this year most without feed would be better off selling out. Even a few ponies might end up at the glue factory.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I wonder how long it can go on though? Had 2 years of huge feed costs, would think if its dry again this year most without feed would be better off selling out. Even a few ponies might end up at the glue factory.

That is what I keep hearing too. Can't pay those prices two years in a row, rather sell. Which is where you might find someone willing to hedge their bets for next year's feed at a price somewhere between long term average and today's, before the 2019 feed situation is known.

But as for the ponies, My neighbor, a well paid professional lady Took on a second job in retail driving an hour each way Just to feed her horses. Another is considering bankruptcy but still won't get rid of the ponies.

[grassfarmer]

Most seem to have squeaked through with just enough feed here. Bales being advertised now are being snapped up at 6-7c/lb. I thought it would have been 10c this spring. Grass is growing, but from a poor start given how abused most pastures were last year and how dry it continues to be. Seeding in full swing now all around.

[oldjim]

How did that ever turn out for the fellas who were crop sharing that stuff?

From what I heard the carryover leases were honoured, but not renewed. The owners are farming it themselves, seem to do a decent job.