Hay- worth stocking up?

[Ceifer]

As title really. Are people thinking of stocking up with what remains of last years stock?
lots of whisperings of prices going sky high with farmers costs going up. But I’m not sure whether this is like the petrol scares and people panic buying.
I don’t have a dedicated supplier and just tend to ask locally what’s about. My neighbour supplied me with most of my summer supply but he’s said it’s not worth his time producing hay this year.
Im tempted to stock up but with a few unexpected bills lately I need to be prudent with money.

 

[Birker2020]

I can't stock up as I'm on a DIY yard so only have allocated space enough for two round bales. I've not heard of prices going up though.

this is the UK
https://ahdb.org.uk/dairy/hay-and-straw-prices

 

[Squeak]

If you have a look at the 'How will we afford it' thread the cost to produce hay has been mentioned. Unfortunately with the cost of diesel, string, wrap and fertilisers etc I think hay price could go sky high.

 

[TPO]

Yes!

My lovely farmer already told us, pre Russian invasion, that hay prices would be going up because of fuel and fertiliser increases. Fuel at least has gone up even more since then too.

Plus the weather has been so mental no one can predict what yield they'll get or baling conditions.

If you've got space buy as much as you can would be my advice

 

[milliepops]

unless there's a miracle and all the prices for fuel and baling consumables suddenly go right down again (mmmmm..... dream world scenario) i would personally say yes this time it's not just scaremongering and it would be worth filling your barn.

 

[Xmasha]

Prices will most certainly be going up. theres issues with using red diesel now, plus the cost of haylage wrap / fertiliser . Theres a fb for farmers that i follow, and they where working out what increases they need to charge before they leave the yard. Scary figures

Definitely worth stocking up if you can

 

[Surbie]

Unfortunately like a lot of people I'm on a livery yard with limited space so will just have to suck up the increases. I would stock up if I could.

 

[Ceifer]

Thanks everyone. Think I’ll stock up if I can ?

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I've not heard anything in the Midlands, but with everything going up in price including fuel I think that everyone who has horses will be paying more for the essentials. The farrier is bound to put prices up due to fuel increases, but to be honest they use any excuse to increase their pay.

 

[Orangehorse]

We have just had a fill up of our red diesel tank filled up and red diesel is now the same price as white (road) diesel used to be.

Hay price is mostly governed by the weather, and there was a lot of grass around last year. If you have the space it might be prudent to get some supplies in.

 

[milliepops]

i think in the past hay price WAS governed by the weather, but this year i think there will be a premium added to the cost of making the stuff, over and above what it previously cost.

 

[dorsetladette]

I was thinking of stocking up. I know my supplier struggled to store everything he made last year so I got really good prices for taking a trailer load or round bales. Only thing is I need to have them wrapped as I have to store outside. My only worry is the price of wrap - he struggled to even source the stuff last time.

 

[milliepops]

wrap has gone up loads all mine is wrapped, apart from a small amount of small bales that go in the barn.

 

[SantaVera]

yes it is worth stocking up.

 

[Xmasha]

wrap has gone up loads all mine is wrapped, apart from a small amount of small bales that go in the barn.

Mines wrapped too, i have toyed with the idea of making hay as opposed to haylage. But the problem is the storing of it. We have quite a few bales left from last years crop, i usually sell them off at cost to a local farmer. Im thinking i will keep it, and make less this year.

 

[tda]

As title really. Are people thinking of stocking up with what remains of last years stock?
lots of whisperings of prices going sky high with farmers costs going up. But I’m not sure whether this is like the petrol scares and people panic buying.
I don’t have a dedicated supplier and just tend to ask locally what’s about. My neighbour supplied me with most of my summer supply but he’s said it’s not worth his time producing hay this year.
Im tempted to stock up but with a few unexpected bills lately I need to be prudent with money.

Is it worth asking your neighbour how much he would want to make you some hay, if you're going to have to pay extra anyway give the money to him, keep it local

 

[skint1]

I think I'm just going to have to eat those costs (well my horses will!) because I have no storage, none of us do at our yard, we can only have small bales too, we have a great local supplier who delivers small amounts weekly. We are paying £5 a bale, I am expecting a significant hike this year,

 

[Regandal]

I am going to stock up. Saw on the news the other day that grain will be in short supply this year, obviously, and already a few farmers are changing grass fields into arable.

 

[Esmae]

I ordered mine in Feb for this year. Have a fixed price. I'm hoping my hay man can manage to stick with it given the circumstances.

 

[Ceifer]

I’ve managed to get another 30 bales delivered tomorrow from the last supplier I used. He’s put his prices up 50p a bale already. I’ve managed to cut down on the horses I have on my land so will have to be really savvy and make the grazing last longer. I only had to hay my fields for a month over winter due to herd dynamic issues but with less horses I’m hoping to be more cost efficient

 

[palo1]

We haven't got enough room to store all the haylage we need sadly so will have to buy at least some at this summer's prices. I am already putting money aside for that now; I am thinking haylage (big bale) possibly up to £50 per bale.

 

[dorsetladette]

Think I'm going to give my hay man a call and see what he says

 

[leflynn]

Our haylage man isn't letting people stock pile - seems like this is a bit like the pre covid bog roll pile up (except we'll use it eventually). I think if people start stockpiling you're only moving the issue further down the line and it may make prices go up more faster or mean that supply is disrupted till the first batch is ready this year?

 

[chaps89]

I have the issue of small furry creatures burying into mine if I stock pile, then I lose 2 rows worth ?
Never had this problem before as I just had big bales dropped off as I needed them.
Sadly my doorway into my storage is 1” not wide enough for big bales, plus our access is across the field so no good for regular drop offs in winter anyway.
I’d say if you have space it’s not likely to hurt to stock up.

 

[Ceifer]

Our haylage man isn't letting people stock pile - seems like this is a bit like the pre covid bog roll pile up (except we'll use it eventually). I think if people start stockpiling you're only moving the issue further down the line and it may make prices go up more faster or mean that supply is disrupted till the first batch is ready this year?

This is my worry I don’t want to be one of ‘those people’ who starts a problem that doesn’t need to happen. Although I wouldn’t be happy with a price hike, I know it’s inevitable. I’m more concerned with a supply issue which could happen with the panic buying. Vicious circle.
As I said, I’m lucky I only have 2 and they’re good doers who spend the majority of their time out. I’d hate to be running a livery/commercial yard of any sort if prices go up ?