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Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
#7406025
01/16/19 05:59 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,585
hetman
OP
"Trash Master"
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OP
"Trash Master"
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,585 |
Weather and army worms did a number on North Texas hay in 2018. This year, customers are paying for it. PLANO, Texas — There are a million things to do to keep a ranch up and running, and one of the most basic tasks has Rosie Aschenbrenner stressed. "It seems like that's all I worry about every week," she said. She owns Healers 4 Heroes in Plano, which offers horseback riding lessons and therapeutic riding for veterans, but feeding those horses in 2019 has become more expensive than she and others expected. Aschenbrenner used to pay around $60 for a single round bale. "Now, they're anywhere from $85 to $150," she said. It's a big enough markup that she's started driving to Oklahoma to buy hay for less. "It's only an hour, but it is a better deal," she said. North Texas is in a hay shortage, and it's affecting ranchers and suppliers alike. At Wells Brothers Pet Lawn and Garden Supply, Dick Broussard says two things are to blame. "The biggest one is drought," he said. "Next is army worms...insects." Spring of 2018 was too dry for too long, and what was left was under attack. That means what Broussard does have to sell is in very high demand. Up until two weeks ago, customers could come in and buy as many barrels of hay as they wanted. Because of the shortage, the store set a limit of just 10 bales of hay per customer, per day. "When I get some more, and I will get some more, it'll be five," he said. That next truck load of hay he's buying will be from Florida. The next harvest of hay around here comes in June. Until then, ranchers will try to answer the question of what it'll cost until then. (link)
Last edited by hetman; 01/16/19 06:00 AM.
"Lesser mortals are pitied for the misfortune in not being born Texan."
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406041
01/16/19 11:13 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,877
Cow_doc.308
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,877 |
It’s getting bad. My cattle guys are struggling. To make it worse, because of the wet fall, a lot of folks didn’t get winter wheat or ryegrass planted, or got it planted late. And the cattle market is down so selling is not a great option either.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406067
01/16/19 12:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,474
stinkbelly
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,474 |
I always pay around $100-125 for a round bale in winter. Maybe the local guys are ripping me off.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406078
01/16/19 12:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,221
LonestarCobra
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,221 |
It was a tough year, we made way less than normal. I tried to sell some year old hay last year at a good low price and nobody bought it. I’m glad they didn’t now, it will get me by. I too only got 30% of my wheat in the ground in the fall.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406079
01/16/19 12:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,628
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,628 |
I fertilized our hay field in August and then prayed for rain. Prayers answered. But then it wouldn't STOP raining. We couldn't get the field dry enough to cut and bale.
By the time we could, we'd had a freeze so my hay is substandard. Syrup tubs will help get us through.
Years ago we fed cottonseed silage and syrup.
It's always something.
Still, we didn't lose completely like the cotton crops around us.
"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406098
01/16/19 01:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,157
jrfan
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,157 |
I am paying $55/bale delivered for bluestem right now. Granted its a college buddy that is pretty much selling at cost, but I've payed a lot more before.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406101
01/16/19 01:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 669
PSHOT
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 669 |
I bought some corn hay from a guy around Corsicana in September when it looked like there would be no rain. He provided me with a hay analysis report. I had fed the corn hay in the past and the cows weren't thrilled with it. This batch of hay the cows love and I cant put it out fast enough. I do supplement with cubes and protein tubs. I think I paid $35/bale which is pretty cheap these days.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: PSHOT]
#7406106
01/16/19 01:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,373
Bullfrog
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,373 |
I bought some corn hay from a guy around Corsicana in September when it looked like there would be no rain. He provided me with a hay analysis report. I had fed the corn hay in the past and the cows weren't thrilled with it. This batch of hay the cows love and I cant put it out fast enough. I do supplement with cubes and protein tubs. I think I paid $35/bale which is pretty cheap these days. “Hay analysis report”- do tell. What’s in that?
Man if I knew what Oxner knows I could throw away what I know
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: Bullfrog]
#7406121
01/16/19 02:00 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,877
Cow_doc.308
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,877 |
I bought some corn hay from a guy around Corsicana in September when it looked like there would be no rain. He provided me with a hay analysis report. I had fed the corn hay in the past and the cows weren't thrilled with it. This batch of hay the cows love and I cant put it out fast enough. I do supplement with cubes and protein tubs. I think I paid $35/bale which is pretty cheap these days. “Hay analysis report”- do tell. What’s in that? You can pull core samples of bale and they can give you nutritional analysis. Offered through extension service.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406166
01/16/19 02:43 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,696
Cochise
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,696 |
I got lucky and got Jiggs from a neighbor down the road for $65 a bale back in September after we got wiped out from army worms. Very pleased with his forage quality (forage analysis looked good - they raise race horses so I didn't expect them to have junk anyways) so I've already locked it in for twice as many bales for 2019. Barring a massive summer drought I know how many bales we'll feed give or take a couple...I'm going to over buy so I can have a few to sell if need be. Had lots of people wanting to buy 2 or 3 this year from us, but I'm not selling. We'll eek by and have a few left to feed during the summer if it gets too dry...we've got great grass and I generally don't have to feed anything to the horses from late Feb through late October.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406219
01/16/19 04:01 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,469
dkershen
Rev Dave
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Rev Dave
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,469 |
I lock my horse hay in each spring with my grower at a set cost and contract to buy 1800 square bales. Right now he really wishes he could charge me market rate, but a deals a deal, and he'll stand behind it.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406291
01/16/19 04:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,453
JKC
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,453 |
Here in Louisiana I am short for my cows too dry during first cutting too wet for the second one. Stretching out what I have as best I can.
Last edited by JKC; 01/16/19 04:56 PM.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: dkershen]
#7406310
01/16/19 05:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,803
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,803 |
I lock my horse hay in each spring with my grower at a set cost and contract to buy 1800 square bales. Right now he really wishes he could charge me market rate, but a deals a deal, and he'll stand behind it. I’ve always contracted a bunch of our alfalfa to a dairy. That major drought we had 8 years back, probably cost my $200plus a ton. But two years before people couldn’t give away alfalfa and I was smiling as it shipped the day it was bailed. I’ll take a check over dreams of getting rich any day.
Bottom line, never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals.-Sen Joni Ernst
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406376
01/16/19 06:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,024
Bar-D
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,024 |
Hay is a yearly concern here. I quit planting my own hay about 7-8 years ago. Drought conditions were bad for so long, I not only lost all the cost of plowing, planting and the seed, I wound up having to scramble to find hay to buy elsewhere. I have a source now that, hopefully, I can depend on in the future and I just budget for enough hay per year to get us through. My swather and baler haven't been moved in years but they haven't cost me any repairs either.
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: Bar-D]
#7406387
01/16/19 06:50 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,216
glens
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,216 |
Still have a few head over on the place i sold and it's been a pita finding good hay. Drove down to Moulton a couple weeks ago and bought a load of coastal. (12) 80 Bucks a round bale 5'x 6'. Gentleman up toward Lexington I usually buy from sold all His early.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406396
01/16/19 07:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,255
pnh
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,255 |
Between the drought and the army worms, finally rolled up almost 1500 rolls. Took me until December though. I hope I have enough to make the winter. Supplementing with 4 lbs of cubes every other day. Been a rancher all my life and have never seen such weather extremes in one year.
Character is what you do when nobody's looking.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406441
01/16/19 07:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,285
Tbar
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,285 |
My guy at the farm tries to go into the winter with 500 bails. This year the weather screwed him up so his cattle ate "standing hay" up until three weeks ago when he had to start feeding. We just bought a new ranch out west where the PO & leaser tells us they feed no hay or minerals. The cattle get everything they need from the soil year around. I find that hard to believe but time will tell. They PO has done extensive work beating back brush and planting improved & native grasses.
Make America Great Again
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406446
01/16/19 07:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,436
Choctaw
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,436 |
Just north of McKinney there is a partially flooded field with about 200 round bales sitting in it. What a stupid waste.
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: Tbar]
#7406455
01/16/19 07:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,803
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,803 |
My guy at the farm tries to go into the winter with 500 bails. This year the weather screwed him up so his cattle ate "standing hay" up until three weeks ago when he had to start feeding. We just bought a new ranch out west where the PO & leaser tells us they feed no hay or minerals. The cattle get everything they need from the soil year around. I find that hard to believe but time will tell. They PO has done extensive work beating back brush and planting improved & native grasses. Watched BLM ranchers make it for years, off native and no supplemental feed. Live and die by your stocking rates. But those guys also have a very conservative biologists not letting the temptation of getting themselves into deep.
Bottom line, never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals.-Sen Joni Ernst
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Re: Hay shortage has North Texas stables and buyers paying up
[Re: hetman]
#7406534
01/16/19 09:27 PM
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 464
tailchaser93
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 464 |
My buddy got a semi load of hay from Mississippi the other day for about $85 a bale... truck driver said Mississippi was about out of hay
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