Good share of 2012 hay locked in.

[Kathie in Thorp]

In talking to local people with some 2011 hay for still for sale, that was still way high ($190-240/ton) with new hay coming in soon, it's going to be ugly. Locked in on the same field we bought out of last year 50 miles away. New lessee on that ground, but decent grass/alf mix at same price as last year for winter hay (unheard of, usually!), and maybe some high percentage alfalfa from the same guy for finishing. As last year's seller said . . . . and the new guy says . . . . he is looking for steady customers, and I was the first of the old ones from that field that rang the new guy's bell. Thanks for watching over us, Lord!

 

[Mid South Guy]

Good to see that loyality is still rewarded.

 

[TexasBred]

Good to see that loyality is still rewarded.

Ain't that the truth. A rare thing these days.

 

[highgrit]

Hay is tuff to come by here. We buy hay from 2 farmers that are close by but neither one has got a cutting yet. And they are out of hay to feed their own cows. So I have been driving 30-40 miles to buy hay, and it's high priced for the quality. Been thinking about going north 200 miles and buying my hay, good price and good quality. Just don't know if my cows can handle some fescue in with the other grass. Hay is hard to come by here now and if it doesn't rain soon it will get worse.

 

[bigbull338]

we arnt selling any hay till we see what the 1st cutting makes.as it could turn off real dry again.we have close to 150acs ready to bale as soon as the guy gets here.doubt if we will need a 2nd cutting.

 

[houstoncutter]

I know some guys just licking their chops waiting to send hay into the S.E. USA.....They are still recovering from that $120 rolls of hay they had to buy. Still a lot of bitter cattlemen here in Texas

Its a shame, but it looks like the days of helping each other are over. So I am very happy that your hay needs are being met.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I know some guys just licking their chops waiting to send hay into the S.E. USA.....They are still recovering from that $120 rolls of hay they had to buy. Still a lot of bitter cattlemen here in Texas

Its a shame, but it looks like the days of helping each other are over. So I am very happy that your hay needs are being met.

There was some good lesson's that came from that drought as well .

Your a grass farmer first and secondly there is no such thing as too much hay.
Man I can't even imagine not having two years worth of hay here.

 

[bigbull338]

CB having 2yrs of hay is a goodthing if you got it.the baler man will be pulling in here today or tomorrow morning.an he said that all of our hay is thick an heavy with coastal on close to 140acs.so theres no telling how meny 4 by 6 bales we will make.if we are lucky we will have 2yrs hay when this cutting is done.he said we are 30 days ahead on the coastal right now.

 

[JSCATTLE]

I've got a barn that will hold 800 rolls its got 110 in it now . I won't sell a lick of hay until its full . That's 3 years worth for me ..

 

[1982vett]

I've got a barn that will hold 800 rolls its got 110 in it now . I won't sell a lick of hay until its full . That's 3 years worth for me ..

In 2007 I thought I had 3 years worth....turned out to be 18 months....

 

[JSCATTLE]

I've got a barn that will hold 800 rolls its got 110 in it now . I won't sell a lick of hay until its full . That's 3 years worth for me ..

In 2007 I thought I had 3 years worth....turned out to be 18 months....

Your right if I had to feed year round it wouldn't be but 18 months worth .

 

[houstoncutter]

Sorry fellas I will have to beg to differ....You cant feed your way out of a drought. It makes more sense to liqudate. Sitting on three years of hay does not make good use of your money... Those animals were made by the good Lord to eat grass...Do we need to put back more reserves of hay,,, u betcha.....but to tie up your money in a product that can go up in flames rather easily doesnt make sense to me.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Sorry fellas I will have to beg to differ....You cant feed your way out of a drought. It makes more sense to liqudate. Sitting on three years of hay does not make good use of your money... Those animals were made by the good Lord to eat grass...Do we need to put back more reserves of hay,,, u betcha.....but to tie up your money in a product that can go up in flames rather easily doesnt make sense to me.

I agree you can become hay poor HC, it is just good business to have a year's worth put back.
I have seen it rain so much here hay was in short supply as well.
Man should never put all his hay in one spot either, one spark and your done.
I keep my hay divided in three different lay down yards.

 

[bigbull338]

your right 1 spark an the hay is gone up in smoke.thats why you carry fire ins on your hay in case that happens.we keep our hay in 3 or 4 places as well.

 

[1982vett]

Sorry fellas I will have to beg to differ....You cant feed your way out of a drought. It makes more sense to liqudate. Sitting on three years of hay does not make good use of your money... Those animals were made by the good Lord to eat grass...Do we need to put back more reserves of hay,,, u betcha.....but to tie up your money in a product that can go up in flames rather easily doesnt make sense to me.

Hay in the barn vs money in the bank vs feeding your way out of a drought...really all about timeframe which is usually unknown.

Bank pays .2% Hay has an investment cost (this year so far is about $30 a roll or $60 a ton depending on just how you want to calculate that...). Hay can loose value or gain value. It's easy for inflation to negate any interest bank pays.

Last year showed me I could pay twice as much for hay or feedstuff (all hindsight) and still be ok...cattle prices basically doubled...It would have been prudent for me to spend $2000 - $10000 on additional hay rather than sell the last 30 head that I sold. Replacing them is going to cost $5-800 a head more than I got for then since it rained in November and a mild winter set in. Had it not rained or a cold winter set in, then my action of selling would have been right. My selling down from 120 head to 60 head was right....the second phase of selling to 28 head was wrong...only because my prediction of the future weather events was wrong. Throwing in the "new" market condidtions made it even more wrong. I still have a chance for it to turn right again...will have to wait to know the answer to that. It all depends on if and when it rains.

Selling vs holding on is an individual single circumstance decision...not a blanket one.

 

[JSCATTLE]

The cows I had left last year were all under 6 years old . Had I sold them I would have averaged 850 or so a head . Because they would of gone to slaughter . No one was buying replacements . Brangus gold cows are bringing 1750 a head now . 2 barns full of hay would be cheaper . With out the cows it's hard to pay the land note .

 

[highgrit]

Yes sir buying cattle at these prices can be a gamble. I feel like I can drive 4-6 hours and find all the hay we need. My trailer will haul 18-21 rolls with no problems hopefully. I figure 15-20$ a roll for fuel, so 30-35$ is all I want to pay per roll. Hopefully it will keep rainning to the W-SW and N-NE of me so they will have a big surplus of hay. It sure doesn't seem like it's going to rain here anytime soon.

 

[houstoncutter]

Yes sir buying cattle at these prices can be a gamble. I feel like I can drive 4-6 hours and find all the hay we need. My trailer will haul 18-21 rolls with no problems hopefully. I figure 15-20$ a roll for fuel, so 30-35$ is all I want to pay per roll. Hopefully it will keep rainning to the W-SW and N-NE of me so they will have a big surplus of hay. It sure doesn't seem like it's going to rain here anytime soon.

35$ a roll in a drought.....ROTFLMAO :lol2: :lol2:

 

[Caustic Burno]

Yes sir buying cattle at these prices can be a gamble. I feel like I can drive 4-6 hours and find all the hay we need. My trailer will haul 18-21 rolls with no problems hopefully. I figure 15-20$ a roll for fuel, so 30-35$ is all I want to pay per roll. Hopefully it will keep rainning to the W-SW and N-NE of me so they will have a big surplus of hay. It sure doesn't seem like it's going to rain here anytime soon.

35$ a roll in a drought.....ROTFLMAO :lol2: :lol2:

A 100 was cheap if you could find it.
He!! rice hay was bringing 60 to 70 bucks a roll.

 

[JSCATTLE]

But if you had hay Stored from a year or 2 before the drought it would be cheaper . It my not be the same for everyone but keeping some of my cows was the right thing for me to do . I should have hustled more hay and kept more .