HAY !!!! ££££££

Hi,

We produce hay and haylage (husband a farmer).

The issue this year is slightly different. the grasses have been under stress due to the early warmth conditions alongside the lack of any substantial rainfall. being under stress they throw up seed stalks (sorry there is probably a terms but he's the farmer) not leaves, (unless hammered with nitrogen but then water is still required).

Now is a game of chance, cut now on a good long range forecast, dry it out and have a low crop first yield, and then onto the nitrogen again to push for a second (with this comes the need for water/rain obviously).

It's a risky business, and the costs for the farmers themselves are high. I know they get a bad press, but there are some decent guys out there.

So at the moment it would be difficult to give an answer, although we'd love to be able to predict the weather accuratley. Each area will be different of course.

Prices will depend on crop, so at the moment it's hard to tell.
Overhead costs vary - a poor harvest costs as much to cut, dry, bale etc... as a really good one in terms of time/labour and machinery.
Fuel is high (even agri) and all running costs like every other business are putting pressure on.

Our aim has always been to have two crops, we have always sold the first and retained the second, however this year we will retain what we need from the first, as it could be the only!

Here's hoping it's a good one.
 
In some areas (we are in E Kent), the lack of rain has severely dimished the grass this season. We are feeding hay and concentrates/balancer to horses which live out. The ones which come in at night are costing the same to keep atm. Fortunately we have 2 farmers in the family who keep us supplied at fair prices.
 
Dovorian said:
In some areas (we are in E Kent), the lack of rain has severely dimished the grass this season. We are feeding hay and concentrates/balancer to horses which live out. The ones which come in at night are costing the same to keep atm. Fortunately we have 2 farmers in the family who keep us supplied at fair prices.
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i am in east kent too, dover, where abouts are you??
 
babymare said:
my supplier was saying " hey have i let you down before will be damn fine chuck" said that last year and true to his word damn fine hay all winter and still - he is a damn fine honest farmer - big sigh as want to get on his yard - only has 12 horses at one time but none leave the yard if pts/die - he buries them in a special field - hes words " they are loved horses and their owners need a place to go" such a good nice man with damn fine hay mmmmmm :)
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I want this man as my YO!!! How sweet!!
 
No rain here (North East) either! Our grass is shocking. Normally at this time of year we are struggling or somewhere to put the laminitics as we have to much grass - no trouble this time!!
We started with silage just yesterday.
Can't see there being an abundance of fodder if this weather keeps up :(
 
I'm glad my lot are out on loads of grass over the winter the only time they eat hay is when it snows and being on the south coast we don't get too many weeks worth, used about ten bales last winter for four horses. They just don't touch it if they have the access to the grass.
Out 24/7 is the way to go if you have the grass, damn site cheaper buying big rugs and keeping them out.
 
Our local supplier is quoting between £7 and £12 for 2011 small bale hay. Last year it cost £3.25 so its doubled/quadrupled in price.

We had the same dismal supply last year so not really sure why its gone up by such a huge margin. Particularly as he bought-in from up north last season....and intends to do so again this year ....so apart from a few quid more per delivery, the actual cost of production hasnt risen.

Yes I know everyone has to make a profit but with wages not going up for most of us, why should some hay suppliers still give themselves such a massive pay rise ? Just doesnt seem right to take advantage in these austere times.
 
Supply and demand. Try going to auctions or looking in horse or farming magazines if you have storage, last year we supplied a couple of local horse people then on a Sunday afternoon phone call opened bale and fusty or thisltly but my horse eat it ok, this year won't get chance as can't see surplus. Think lot of forage going to be imported and all air miles that involves
 
mrussell said:
Our local supplier is quoting between £7 and £12 for 2011 small bale hay. Last year it cost £3.25 so its doubled/quadrupled in price.

We had the same dismal supply last year so not really sure why its gone up by such a huge margin. Particularly as he bought-in from up north last season....and intends to do so again this year ....so apart from a few quid more per delivery, the actual cost of production hasnt risen.

Yes I know everyone has to make a profit but with wages not going up for most of us, why should some hay suppliers still give themselves such a massive pay rise ? Just doesnt seem right to take advantage in these austere times.
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It isn't just about afew quid more on delivery - fuel is high, crop yeilds are down (from the farmer) and all their living costs have risen too.
Some may not have even made a profit at all last year (farmers), which is not unheard of. many are asset rich in terms of their farm and cash poor, if they sell parts of their farm then that is only a short term cash fix and not a long term strategy, and once land is sold they are reducing their future altogether.

So whilst your wages may not have gone up much, they likely haven't earnt one last season.

There is a lot more cost involved in terms of farming and production than I think most people realise. The farmers are at the mercy of the weather for almost all their income.

If you feel your supplier is too high in price then shop around for a local supplier, or buy in bulk direct from a farm near you and collect it yourself.

We deliver bedding, hay etc... but we don't deliver small volumes, simply put: it's not worth the time/cost.

We don't sell small numbers from our premises, because of the hassle factor, waiting in, customers then not turning up, or arriving at all hours ( we have young family) and often quite rude as well.

I think it will be likely this year that forage will be imported from elsewhere (Poland etc...) so the costs for this 'cheaper to produce' will still be high, given the miles and the intermediaries inbetween.

These times are really testing the fact that horses are a luxury which comes at a cost and I think alot of people are realising the impact of our current economy and the shortages in terms of harvest.

Wheat - this too stands to be a smaller yield this year but a good quality (given the conditions) - so be prepared for more food price hikes... especially if Russia et al lose their crops again this year with the weather.

The 'squeeze' isn't over yet for anyone, and most farmers are not sat around counting their large piles of money. All the ones I know are sat around wondering what their best strategy is for the future.

I hope everyone gets sorted out with their hay for winter.
 
Fii said:
Lets be fair, hay and straw had'nt had a price increase for twenty years or more, before last year!
Everything else is going up around us, but horse people still expect to get hay at £2.50 a small bale.
Get real!
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I can!! i buy it from someone who isnt a farmer by trade, but has land and makes hay/haylege and has no intention of bumping the price up, its been 2.50 for yrs.

Ive been at livery on a farm over the winter where it is £3 per small bale, and for the last 2 months we are using as much of the big bales of hay as we want for free as he had about 20 big bales to use up before he cuts this years!! :D
 
Its a difficult one. No grass at the moment so feeding left over hay from last year (mine live out) whereas they shouldn't really be needing hay morning and night, and the grass isn't growing for this years hay crop.

Last year even the fatties had ad lib hay in the show and bad weather, this year they may have to be rugged up and fed less!
 
For all those wanting cheap hay buy or rent land, buy fertiliser tractor loader spinner mower turner baler trailer diesel string and then hope for correct weather, job done oh plus labour.
 
Last year my supplier put his prices up due to the lack of yield and I admit I had a moan to myself about it...my OH went spare and thought he was taking the michael and told me to find cheaper hay elsewhere. So I did this...found some lovely hay that I had to collect myself in my trailer...the price difference was £1.50 per bale cheaper.
BUT...the bales are a lot smaller than my usual supplier and by the time I had got a couple of loads in my trailer and brought them back I really do not think I should have bothered!
My usual suppliers hay bales can be split into quarter bales and each quarter does my good doer lad at night about fine...the cheaper stuff can only be split into thirds to get the same quantity in weight.
So despite the fact that my OH has a fit each time I use my normal supplier...I am still using him and trying to find the extra money to pay for the extra cost because in the long run it works out better and I can totally trust the source of the hay and know it is fine for my good doer that has had laminitis in the past.
I think you have to sit down and work out the fundamentals of whether you have it delivered or have to collect and the quality of the hay you are getting. For me with one horse in at night all year, using 120 bales a year...it is a no brainer and I will find the extra money from my christmas bonus if needs be to get the right hay from my trusted supplier...even if OH thinks I am mad!
 
Have phoned a few farmers today to order hay off the field... no chance they are keeping it them selfs :( tack/feed shop now selling only 5 small bales to folk at one time and the other feed shop hay is now £8.25 and said "it may" go up to £13 at xmas time if..... hay crop is rubbish.
 
i know not many farmers do have left over hay from last year but it may be worth a try going round and asking cos they are often keen to clear the barns ready (although this may not be the case)
 
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