The growing season in the mountains of the Catskill region is incredibly short. You barely have a chance to take a second cut before the leaves start to turn and fall. Normally 1st cut begins late May and runs on our farm through June. We're now past the middle of June and no three day sunny forecast is in sight. As we grow organic hay and do not use dry down agents or preservatives, we need a straight three days and temperatures over 75 degrees to bale clean and green hay. The tall timothy and dense undergrowth of mixed grasses seem to mock me, they toss their seedy heads and beckon me to take a look at how wonderfully they are growing.
Other farmers have taken the plunge and knocked hay down. I see it laying there still, brown and waterlogged, hit by a sudden cloudburst. Many farmers have chopped the hay, giving up on dry baling.
Well it is not entirely unusual for us to have to wait until the beginning of July to cut hay when I reflect back on our fifteen years of experience haying in Upstate New York. But unless we get massive rain in August which is highly unlikely, the 2nd cut will be a miserable small quantity so that will be in short supply and prices at a premium.
Fortunately we still have hay from 2014 left which is fortunate for us, and even a little available to sell if anyone is stuck for a supply.
When the hay does finally come in, I'd be sure to stock up early and check the quality carefully.
