As we roll through the harvest season, it is the only time that we are excited for dry conditions. However, the drought has expanded throughout most of the corn belt. We’ve seen increases in drought conditions in places like Minnesota South Dakota and even Wisconsin. Iowa has had its first D4 drought of the year, putting them on par with Texas. While this is bad for crops it’s even worse for the livestock that survives off the plant life that grows all year long. Not only are our pastures sparse but hay it’s going to be hard to come by in this winter season.
Last week, the World Dairy Expo was held in Wisconsin. The event highlighted all things dairy in the United States and around the world. One of the topics that were talked about transcends the dairy industry and affects grazing animals across the whole country. That is the situation we are finding ourselves in when it comes to hay. Amy Freeburg is with the National Hay Association, and she talks about the organization and what they’re discussing with farmers at events like the World Dairy Expo.
Freeburg says that in dry conditions as we’ve seen across much of the corn belt, we see a decrease in tonnage but an increase in quality.
While having good quality is certainly something to celebrate, the low tonnage lends itself to even higher prices than we’ve seen in the past.
What has been a little bit of a blessing is the fact that the conditions have been right for people such as Freeburg to produce a fifth cutting of hay.
So, it’s good news for ranchers to know that the hay that is out there is in good condition. They’re gonna get what they pay for when it comes to these high prices. However, it’s going to be availability that determines the success of cattle feeding this winter.
Thanks to our friends at WRDN radio in Durand, WI for providing the audio for this story.
