Hay Shortage?

[BigCountryMopar]

Apparently we’ve got a bit of a hay shortage around here. It’s so wet that even if there was ryegrass to cut, you can’t get into the field to cut it. I’m in need of hay, but I have not been able to find any within an hour drive of me. I can buy square bales local to me, but it’s expensive and labor intensive to feed cows with them. I’ve been on the phone for two days trying to find some round bales. I’m curious if it’s just here, or if other places are experiencing the same thing.

 

[69 GTX]

Iowa has had below average hay crops the last 2 years, it's bringing a premium here. Only good thing is the winter has been mild so far.

 

[BigCountryMopar]

It’s bringing a premium here too. If you can find hay in the barn, it’s 50+ dollars a bale. A guy just called me and said he’s got outside hay for 25 dollars a bale. He’s an hour and a half away. So hopefully it’s at least edible. I’m going to load up and go get some, before he sells out too.

 

[MarPar]

 

[Dreamcatcher]

Here in South Dakota there is so much hay that prices are low. I can buy a larger round for about 50-60.00 Large growth last year and a mild winter. I buy it to feed deer lol.

 

[69 GTX]

Big rounds were bringing 100 plus here

 

[67440chrg]

I dont use any but I let a friend cut my field and have the hay so I dont have to cut it. There is still hay on craigs list here for $40 to $60 large bails. It looks to be good conditions here for this year.

 

[kiwigtx]

My buddy Cliff has just finished up loading thousands of square bales into his sheds for the coming winter. He only does squares, as the horsey type women around these parts cannot manage big rounds. Here he is tuning up his knotter......

I suspect that shipping would be a killer @BigCountryMopar

 

[69 GTX]

Those knotters can try a man when they're not working!

 

[MarPar]

Big rounds were bringing 100 plus here

As opposed to short round?

 

[kiwigtx]

Those knotters can try a man when they're not working!

Oh yes...it took a few hours of observation and a video or 3 to see the issue. In the end, a local friend with a similar bailer spotted the problem. One slightly bend needle....hard to spot it.

 

[tnfastback]

Round bales going for $30-$35 here. I prefer feeding the other so the Cows get a square meal

 

[Budnicks]

Hay/straw was $180 per/ton here
Alfalfa/hay was $200 per/ton
@ early 2019 Hay/straw pricing

I don't buy it anymore, haven't since 2018
not sure what that broke down to per bale
I bought in bulk & not bales

IIRC (don't quote me)
the small square string bales are appr. 40#,
give or take, so appr. 50 per ton/load

to 100# for the big rectangle bales,
give or take, so appr. 20 per ton/load

never bought any rounds ever, rarely ever bought bales even
extra $$ to have it baled up
when we had acreage, we just free fed or cut our own

 

[BigCountryMopar]

My buddy Cliff has just finished up loading thousands of square bales into his sheds for the coming winter. He only does squares, as the horsey type women around these parts cannot manage big rounds. Here he is tuning up his knotter......

I suspect that shipping would be a killer @BigCountryMopar

View attachment 912060

Oh yeah shipping would be crazy. A friend of the family puts up about 10-12 thousand squares a year. I was going to go buy some but it’s almost double the cost when you break it down per ton.

 

[BigCountryMopar]

Well, here is what 25 dollar hay looks like. I bought 10 bales. If I get 5 bales worth of feeding out of them, it’ll be almost the same money. Typically I buy barn stored, dry hay, for 40 a roll. The family friend who does squares it takes 13-14 squares to make a round. The rounds I normally buy are 1000-1200 pounds. At 40 a bale that’s 80 a ton. 26 squares ( give or take) would put that at 117/ Ton. This stuff looks pretty good in the middle and since I put it out the cows haven’t stopped eating it. I told my wife that we either need to start buying more during the season, or I need to start cutting my own. My tractor can do it, just not a big big baler or cutter. She would rather buy and store the hay, I’d rather cut it myself.

 

[Ghostrider 67]

We had a banner year for hay last summer here. Long season, 4 cuts. Look in the farm media outlet magazines and such for New England hay. I know my neighbor sent out 4 tractor trailer loads of square bales... There may be some to be had up around here.

 

[kiwigtx]

Oh yes...it took a few hours of observation and a video or 3 to see the issue. In the end, a local friend with a similar bailer spotted the problem. One slightly bend needle....hard to spot it.

@HEMI-ITIS ...the guy feeding the loose hay into the bailer is "Mr Andrew"
I'm on the camera.

 

[kiwigtx]

View attachment 912170View attachment 912171
Well, here is what 25 dollar hay looks like. I bought 10 bales. If I get 5 bales worth of feeding out of them, it’ll be almost the same money. Typically I buy barn stored, dry hay, for 40 a roll. The family friend who does squares it takes 13-14 squares to make a round. The rounds I normally buy are 1000-1200 pounds. At 40 a bale that’s 80 a ton. 26 squares ( give or take) would put that at 117/ Ton. This stuff looks pretty good in the middle and since I put it out the cows haven’t stopped eating it. I told my wife that we either need to start buying more during the season, or I need to start cutting my own. My tractor can do it, just not a big big baler or cutter. She would rather buy and store the hay, I’d rather cut it myself.

My buddy Cliff has always made small 'squares' - he tells me that big bales equals big machinery which equals bigger costs & problems.
He does OK for himself, and is reserving some for later in the season for his regular good customers. It has been a hard season here for hay, very dry, and still dry, so grass levels are lower than average. however, Cliff is not one who will gouge his customers because of the shortage....he doesn't believe in short-term gain either. I guess that's why he has been so successful doing this for the last 30 years or so.

I did suggest that we needed to load up his Ram and my A100, and have a paddock drag race...or burnout competition....

It's still on the bucket list.

 

[Hey-O]

Oh yes...it took a few hours of observation and a video or 3 to see the issue. In the end, a local friend with a similar bailer spotted the problem. One slightly bend needle....hard to spot it.

I work the same way, in one end, packaged coming out the other end. Up side, no needles needed...... I'm sorry, that way totally off topic and inappropriate.

 

[BigCountryMopar]

Around here, returning customers are the way to make money with hay. For the last two years I’ve been buying from the same guy. Sometimes he throws in a smaller than normal bale. He was going to reserve me some, but sold it all first. He’s got to have hip surgery so he’s not sure if he’ll be cutting come spring. He just bought a tractor with an air ride seat and air ride cab. He figured that would help him get back to it sooner. We’ll see. This fella today said if my normal guy isn’t back up and cutting to give him a call. I’m a loyal customer, the only way I’ll change is if my guy can’t cut this year, or if I start cutting my own hay.