Hay shortages??

[Guinness]

Are there really hay shortages this year?? I guess the long cold winter hasn't helped but its not like last summer was a wash out...from what I remember it was perfect hay making weather! I sometimes get the feeling there is a secret group of hay merchants somewhere that make up these stories to raise hay prices! Our small bale hay is going up to £8 a bale on our yard!! So if anyone near Newmarket knows anywhere that sells small bale hay (and can deliver) please let me know!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/305283.html

 

[Guinness]

Anyone??

 

[martlin]

Yes, there is hay shortage in some parts of the country. The weather was good for hay making, but the spring was rubbish for grass growing.

 

[china]

yep there is a hay shortage. farmers are getting half the cut they have had in previous years. the weather was good when cutting it but the weather wasnt any good before hand so the growth wasnt there. They are now buying stock of fellow farmers and charging double for it. Haylage is much cheaper this year. hay round here is £50 a bale and haylage is £30.

 

[iconique]

I'm sorry but I think that there are some profiteers from this scaremongering!! Yes alot of harvests were down, but we are only an hour from op and are paying about £4 per small bale.

I ordered and agreed a price last year, we know how many bales we need and our suppliers know we are going to pay. I think the answer is planning otherwise consider feeding the alternatives like haylage or hifi or combining.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

guiness ,, i would guess you didnt make hay! weather last year was not ideal. some very good stuff made early, and some stuff made really late. but in general all yields were down by approx 40%.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Think it depends on where your located. Doesnt seem a problem here in wales.

 

[Aoibhin]

our lot took 35% less bales per acre than the previous 2 years, the grass just diddnt grow well.
luckily for us it had a mad spurt just after it was cut & we avoided most of the snow so not had to feed much hay

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

April was so hot and dry that the grass didn't grow well, a lot of places have only managed to get one cut in. I pay £5.80 for small bale in Kent, which considering other places is not too bad, but its such a massive mark up from 2 years ago!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Just been told by YO that when our 'normal' hay at £3 a bale runs out the CHEAPEST he has found so far is £6.50 a bale and was told to expect the prices to keep rising as the weeks pass

As others have said the grass growing was rubbish round here last year and they are predicting another dry summer for this year