Drought Hay Pricing ?

[papavillars]

As Greybeard said too much rain here. I literally have had rain every week. I cannot get into some field to cut it.

 

[Richnm]

Hay prices have been going up steadily here. Semi loads of grass cow hay hit U$S 240 per ton at an auction last week. It would be cheaper to buy local shell corn...

What would be the highest price per ton you have seen loads cow hay sell for during a drought?

New Mexico cow hay drought prices.
2 strand bale $9
3 strand bale $15
3x3x8 800 pounds $150
3x4x8 1,200 pounds $200

 

[Stocker Steve]

Found some straw that seemed reasonable, but when I figured out bales per ton and shipping costs I was wrong...

There is a trucking shortage here so rates are going up.

 

[JParrott]

Prices still normal here for grass/mixed. Alfalfa doesn't seem to be too far out of line either given the year the north and western US had.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2929.pdf

 

[Richnm]

1,200 pound 3x4x8 bales. In NM

 

[Stocker Steve]

Ran some cash flow numbers with our latest local hay pricing - - about U$S 150/T for cows and U$S 215 for heifers. No obvious winners yet, but bred heifers could cash flow and even generate a profit if they appreciate enough. I know the sell buy boys would not think much of this analysis but I have decades into some of these cattle...

So you can feed your way out of a drought (if calves are $3) !

 

[C-Ranch]

Neighbor B say once fall cows and the cows come out of the hills he is going to count bales and count cows and sell things until the numbers match up.

Sounds like your neighbor B and I are on the same page. Doesn't pencil out to pay $200+ for hay at this point in time. Keep all we can and prep for next year, but unfortunately some have to go.

 

[Son of Butch]

2 weeks ago sold a load of 2nd crop rained on alfalfa mix at auction $140 ton
last week we sold another load, exact same hay, same sale barn $260 ton
auctions can be a real crap shoot, but there is an obvious demand.

 

[Stocker Steve]

My heifers can afford U$S 140 (delivered). Meanwhile, I bought some N this week and I am planning on some fall stockpile.

What is corn silage worth in Hutch?

 

[Stocker Steve]

Lots of corn silage, swamp hay, and herd depopulation are started to push cow hay prices down. Local auctioneer thinks it will be "only" U$S 100 per ton by November.

 

[Dave]

B told me the other day he was offered good Alfalfa delivered for $225. You have to mix a bunch of cheap hay with that to make it pay. Feed that straight it is $3.25 a day to feed a cow. One of the problems is that cheaper grass hay just isn't to be found anywhere. Got to get that feed cost down to $2.25-2.50 and day per cow.

 

[GoWyo]

B told me the other day he was offered good Alfalfa delivered for $225. You have to mix a bunch of cheap hay with that to make it pay. Feed that straight it is $3.25 a day to feed a cow. One of the problems is that cheaper grass hay just isn't to be found anywhere. Got to get that feed cost down to $2.25-2.50 and day per cow.

Need something that makes a turd and just feed 10#/day of the alfalfa to keep the alfalfa supplement to $1.00-1.10/day. Problem in a drought year is lack of dry matter to make the turd.