Hay

lillie07

lillie07

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Our local supplier now has hay.. but its £5.35 a bale!!
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God thats shocking! We pay £4 a bale and its supplied by the yard from the local farm! However he cut his first cut a month ago and was just wanting a second cut so not the end of the world if he cuts in September!
 
We haven't been able to cut ours yet, but aren't in a hurry as all are out atm. Even if it costs us double this year would only be £3 a bale .... thank god wehave our own hay field!
 
Our hay has been ruined. We have set aside another field in the hope that we can get another crop. However, it's unlikely, unless there is a miracle turn around in the weather. So I wouldn't be too complacent Emma.
 
my YO told us last night we have 2 bales left, after that its onto old hay which we have 20tonne bales of which will last us a month at the most.........then we have to source our own.......We cant cut our crop as its soaking wet
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YOs OHs parents have a farm in Norfolk and somehow theyve managed to get 200 tonne bales already, which they are saving for us if the worst comes to the worst.....
 
I have been buying new hay at £2 a bale off the field and cant store my winters supply so am starting to get worried might end up going on full livery some where to get hay!!
 
bugger
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I can only store 25 bales at a time as there are 4 of us having hay. I think that I will ring my farmer this afternoon and see if I can buy some now and just call it off as and when I need it. £5.35 a bale
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I think everyone is panicing about the 'hay shortage'. We haven't had enough dry weather yet to get a good cut and let it dry to bale. Speaking to farmers around me, most are sure that they will get another crop in August. Ok, it will not be such good quality, but they will still have a decent amount.

I wouldn't rush into buying too much at the moment - I'm sure the price is set to drop later in the summer.

In any case, if the worst comes to the worst, there should be enought haylage.
 
Happihorse just took the words out of my mouth. Also heard we're going to have a nice august, but thats before it rained....
 
yep - we'll get a cut sometime in august or september even when some farmers take 'second cut' hay

my fields are still with the crop standing and I've just got to hope we get 4 consecutive dry days

the only good thing is that with the rain there is a lot of 'bottom' coming thru on the growth to make up for the lack of grass growth due to the very dry april.

so if the hay is cut and dries well there will be enough of it - not a surplus but not the dire shortage we have now

also - for entrepreneurs - if you go across to France there is plenty - you just need a big flatbed to bring back the bales !!
 
Well as July was supposed to be the hottest on record, I wouldn't relay on anything the met office have to say at the moment.................
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I've given up with hay this year, with a pregnant mare I need good quality and with 4 horses 5 bales is a drop in the ocean for me. I have just ordered 40 200kg bales of haylage which should see me through the winter and into next summer. Quite an outlay though
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I have rang round loads of suppliers for last or this years hay and there is none at the moment. I am just saving my grazing so I have enough of that to get my horse through winter instead...but I am lucky as can leave him out 24/7 all year if I want. I have managed to get a few bales of last years hay to see me through the next couple of months. It must be so hard for people with lot's of horses or on a yard with so many mouths to feed.
 
i have one large round bale to last my horse, was thinking of getting another horse but may hold off. i will probably mix haylage and hay together when i get half way through this big bale. thank goodness i purchased it when i did it was only £20. reckon i could sell it for 50 at the moment tho. im sure august will bring some good weather.
 
I have heard too that the guy who supplies our yard might be going to france to get some but it will be about £5+ per bale !!! Better than having a starving horse I guess but might be bread and jam for me for the rest of the year !!!
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I think thats why ours is so expensive- it has come from abroad
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The other supplier we/ I use last week delivered the smallest bales I have ever seen- I think they must be half size so he twice as many (they still cost the same!!)

Trouble is I have nowhere to store more than about 8 bales. Think I might start mixing in some haylage now
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After much searching, we found a small supply last week. Sent hubby to get a couple of bales. he came home with just one bale!! It cost £4. I saw hay advertised though, at £6 per small bale.
We have plenty of grazing for the winter, the only problem is we have a number of donkeys. they don't have waterproof coats so will take themselves in a lot and will need something to eat.
I assume straw is in short supply too?? (donkeys happily eat straw)

Hmmm....maybe a trip to France is in order!!
 
At this rate it will be cheaper to feed something like hi-fi, although I guess that may be in short supply too as I guess they won't get the alfalfa and straw cut either?
 
Do you all reckon the problem will continue all through this winter then?
I had hoped that farmers etc might either make haylage, or if we have a glorious August (he he he fat chance!) they might still make hay, although of poor quality.
S
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