Export Quality Hay getting weather-hit hard here this week.

[Kathie in Thorp]

The local rag has had some articles about the high expectations for export hay-- most to Japan, and some to the Mid-East. $240-$320/ton for other-countries' cattle and horses. Timothy is the big crop here, with Orchard Grass and Alfalfa following. Most started cutting hay here last week. Intermittent light rains on/off. The last couple days, occasional drenchings. Drove past hay fields tonight that were getting turned, as it was raining. Pouring here right now. And that's why we don't buy our hay here in the valley -- we'll drive 60 miles to get past the export market. Timothy doesn't do anything for cattle, anyway.

[gonzo]

If I had to pay 100$ a ton I'd sell my animals, they must have more money than brains

[Kathie in Thorp]

Mostly, Gonzo, it goes overseas to places that don't/can't grow hay. The rain has continued on/off all weekend (raining again this morning), so these growers are definitely going to take a hit on the quality of first cutting.

[Alan]

Kathie, looks like our hay on the west side is going to be pretty late again, like last year. We can't catch a period of dry weather, or warm weather for that matter either. Grass looks short for this time of year. Last year hay around me didn't get baled until very late July, early August, the norm is early July. That late a lot of the seed head is gone and hay is a bit burnt.

Gonzo, it's not uncommon for hay to go for $100 per ton out here, if I can find it for $80 a ton I'm dancing. This is the price for small square bales, but round bales aren't much better priced. We have such a short growing season in the western part of the PNW one cutting is the norm.

The hay Kathie is talking about is top notch hay, I'd lay a bale of eastern Oregon/Washington orchard grass hay next to any grass hay in the country. It may lose, I haven't seen a whole lot of hay from other parts of the country, but it's nutritious, great looking green grass, that will make you do a double take when a truck load goes by.

Alan

[Kathie in Thorp]

Alan & Gonzo -- Even driving 60-100 miles to get hay, I still expect to pay at least $150/ton for decent E. Wash. hay. That's just the market here. Lots of pasture pet ponies and small cattle operations, and the hay people never have to worry about finding buyers -- the buyers need to worry about finding hay!

[Alan]

Pretty much what I was saying Kathie, we can find hay over here, on my side of of the hill, for around $100 to $120 a ton, but it doesn't hold a candle to the quality of hay your side produces. And like your side, lots of hobby guys, like me, to sell to. I just paid $4 per 50 lb small square bale to try to get me to this years cutting, easy math is $200 per ton. Won't get into that though. Just late between seasons and no hay to be found from my regular suppliers.

Alan

[Kathie in Thorp]

Pretty much what I was saying Kathie, we can find hay over here, on my side of of the hill, for around $100 to $120 a ton, but it doesn't hold a candle to the quality of hay your side produces. And like your side, lots of hobby guys, like me, to sell to. I just paid $4 per 50 lb small square bale to try to get me to this years cutting, easy math is $200 per ton. Won't get into that though. Just late between seasons and no hay to be found from my regular suppliers.

Alan

Most small bales here in the area are min. 75 lbs., on up to 125 lbs. We bought 80 lb. grass/alf bales a few weeks ago (4 trailer loads) at $5/each -- that was a steal. Hoping to get another 3 or 4 loads from the same guy 2nd cutting, but it won't be the same price. Neighbor (big export hay grower) baled his tall horse pasture grass this last week and brought a couple ton over at $70. Obviously, he doesn't realize that pasture grass is most-preferred by our cows!

[Dave]

Those export yards will cull hay pretty heavy. I know a guy in Kathie's neighborhood who feeds the rejects from Anderson. It was reasonably priced and his cows stayed fat. There should be a lot of rejects this year. People from other parts of the country should realize that for export we are talking about the top quality Timothy, Orchardgrass, and Alfalfa. They buy the best and aren't afraid to pay for it.

[Kathie in Thorp]

Yes, Anderson does that, Dave, and a couple other hay outfits in the area.