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Planning Now for Predicted Hay Shortage Wise despite Recent
Rains
By
Aimee Nielson
 LEXINGTON, Ky., (July 18, 2007) – No doubt about it, experts
agree the current drought situation is wreaking havoc on
Kentucky’s pastures and hay fields from Paducah to Pikeville.
Ray Smith, University of Kentucky extension forage specialist
said that most farmers depend on the period from May through
June for highest hay production. With the Easter freeze dealing
a low blow just prior to that peak time and now the current
drought conditions, he said producers are experiencing a “double
whammy” and looking at mostly brown fields.
With that in mind, hay is going to be a hot commodity in
Kentucky and the thirsty Southeast this year. Even with recent
rains in parts of the state, UK College of Agriculture Hay
Specialist Tom Keene said he expects demand to be “higher than I
can ever remember.”
Keene said farmers can expect hay prices to remain high and
continue to rise throughout the rest of the year.
“Producers and sellers nationwide are well aware of the
situation in Kentucky and other drought-stricken areas,” he
said. “Producers would be well-served to source their hay early
and acquire quantities necessary to carry them through until May
of 2008.”
Keene said current prices on midsize square bales of 140 to 150
RFV (relative feed value) hay delivered into Kentucky from
outside the state is somewhere between $140 and $175 per ton.
“Small square bales of good horse hay are bringing more than
$200 per ton,” he continued. “Locally grown round bales are
easily bringing $80 per ton or maybe even more.”
In an effort to help Kentucky farmers in this uncertain time,
Keene and others at UK are working with representatives of the
Kentucky Department of Agriculture to outline a plan of action.
“We have set up a ‘hay hotline’ where farmers could get
information about sourcing or selling hay via a toll-free phone
number and via the Internet,” he said. “Listings on the site
will give Kentucky hay sellers first priority and then go on to
list hay for sale in other states. The site will link to ‘hay
hotlines’ in other states as well as to producers who are
aligned with the National Hay Association, the Nebraska Alfalfa
Marketing Association, etc.”
The number for the hotline is 888-567-9589 and the web site is
http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/forage/HayForageDroughtRelief.htm.
Keene said the effort is a “work in progress.” He said KDA will
contact the National Hay Association and ask that they make
their members aware of Kentucky’s need and encourage them to
list their hay on the Web site.
“KDA is also going to contact other state departments of
agriculture around the country and ask them to let their
producers know of our need for hay,” Keene said. “Hopefully,
state hay organizations and producers nationwide will
participate in our effort to help Kentucky farmers ‘stretch’
their hay inventories for this year. The hay that KDA currently
tests will also be linked to this site as you can see when you
go there.”
Keene said they also hope to have a link on the site in order to
help producers source commodity feeds such as dried distiller’s
grain and soybean hulls.
He encouraged Kentucky producers to think ahead about their hay
situation and to check a few already established Web sites such
as
http://www.nebraska-alfalfa.com;
http://www.haybarn.com;
http://www.hayexchange.com;
http://www.hayforsale.net and
http://www.nationalhay.org. |
Contact: Tom Keene, 859-257-3144
Ray Smith, 859-257-3358
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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