The 2021 Hay Season Rained Out

Labor intensive small square bales at a premium

 

2021 has been a year of tremendous variance in haymaking weather for many hay farmers across the country. While the West has ridiculously hot weather, fires and parched ground, the North-East began the hay season with good weather and everything looked perfect for a great hay season.

In the Mid-Atlantic States the heavy rains in Spring brought on growth but also caused mildew issues with Bermuda grass types, leaving the Carolinas with less quality in their May cut. While in the North-East the farmers who dutifully watched the weather and started cutting as soon as the weather settled were rewarded with good quality harvests and slightly above average yields for the most part. But then the rains came and many farmers in the North-East and Eastern Canada were cut short in the 1st cut harvesting program. 

Organic horse hay at Willowview Hill Farm, Stamford, NY

 

In some North-Eastern USA regions, the daily rainfall totals have been so high and so overwhelming with their persistence, that the fields are too wet to even contemplate working at the present time. Yet, rather unusually, in certain areas such as Northern Maine and Northern New Hampshire and Northern Vermont, drought conditions have left fields of parched crop as their Spring rains never showed up.

Where rain persisted, many farmers opted to take the planned 1st cut dry hay as a silage cut, in order to hopefully maintain a decent 2nd cut yield later in the year. Due to the drought issue in Northern NE areas, hay producers in Upstate New York and Eastern Ohio are busy supplying their colleagues in those regions.

Meantime, hay commodity futures continue to escalate, as many of the usual hay producing States out West such as Idaho, as well as Northern PA, New York and New England report shortages are expected. Export hay prices are also increasing, with export levels above last year's numbers for the same period.

Top quality or premium horse hay production will obviously be negatively affected by the wet weather issues. If they have been harvested there is a likelihood knocked down hay will have at some point in time been rained upon, that necessarily lessens the nutritional value of the cut. Damaged crop may be mulched back or baled in large rounds/squares for use and sale to the cattle or general livestock market and miss the horse market altogether.

Even if the hay available is 1st cut, expect these later 1st cut supplies to be at a higher price than those available earlier in the year as a result of the high demand. Late cut 1st hay often means a lack of 2nd cut hay too, as the grasses have not had time to grow. The outcome of 2nd cut yield and quality will depend of course on the amount of rain and temperatures.

Given all the above it is a good idea to stock your barn with hay supplies sooner rather than later, or be prepared to pay higher prices again this year. Diesel prices are of course significantly higher than 2020 and many farmers are still reeling from last year's drought and lack of hay revenue as a result and have barely managed to stay financially afloat. Many having to buy in hay supplies for their own livestock instead of supplying their own.

Current prices that dealers are paying for small square 1st cut horse hay bales of premium quality in Upstate NY range from $6-$8 bale. Dealers are already scooping up supplies, having learned the lessons of last year in the supply chain. While certain areas such as Long Island, NY, NJ, PA, and the entire North-East are paying much higher prices. Some retailers paying as much as $13-14 for a small square of good quality product.

As for the availability and pricing of 2nd cut - expect that to be elevated and talk to your suppliers early. Consider buying hay out of the wagons/off the field to secure supply.