stocky
Well-known member
Last fall, before hay prices sky rocketed, I made a deal with a friend that I would take every bale (4x6, John Deere grass) that he would sell for 35 dollars per bale. He knew he would have at least a certain number, and then how many more would depend on what he would have left over from his cows. We had both been feeding hay since June, but with some rain in Sept-Nov, he was going to have several hundred more bales to let me have. I had sold my 100 cow black angus herd in October, so I really only needed a few hundred above the original number to get me through the last few weeks til spring. I had all the hay bought at 35 dollars, but I told him if he knew people who needed hay, or if he wanted to try to make more money than 35, to go ahead and advertise them and sell them, but if he couldn't get the 35, they were still mine at that price and I would store them until next year. The reason I say not everyone is a price gouger, is that even though the market on hay is sky high, he sold every bale to neighbors and farmers (no traders) who were desperate for hay at 35 dollars. He could have priced it at 50 or higher, but he knows what it is like to be up against a wall, and he knows the value of neighbors helping each other. He is a first class guy and neighbor and several people are making it better now due to his kindness. There are many like him in every neighborhood, they are known and appreciated, and people are always willing to lend them a hand. On the other hand, there are plenty of price gougers and they are known and they get charged an arm and a leg anytime they need help, if anyone is willing to help them. I know a banker who recently paid 100 dollars per bale to feed a herd he repossessed. I don't think anyone was looking to do him any favors
