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2014 Hay Season

This years hay has come in and it is beautiful but super expensive!  For hundred plus pound bales last year of high grade hay I paid $13 delivered.  This year for the same level of hay I’m paying $19.  Ouch!

haytruck

California is having serious drought conditions and it has affected this years growing season.  There wasn’t enough rain for a lot of crops to grow and some fields didn’t even get planted.  Because of this we are looking at higher demand for the hay that was grown.  Word around town is there just won’t be enough hay to go around this year so regardless of price people are having to stock up while they can.  I know some people have had to sell off a lot of their animals which is so sad but I understand the predicament – less grass grew because of less rain, meaning they would have to buy extra of already pricey hay.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday will be my last delivery load and I’ll be done buying hay for the year.  Its been an expensive month!  But to see my critters happily munching on some tasty grass hay or alfalfa makes it well worth it.

barnhay

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We need rain…

sheep pasture

I rely heavily on the pastures I have to feed the sheep in the Spring and Summer.  Unfortunately this year we have not had much rain yet and it is making me a little nervous.

The little rain we did have started some of my grass seed growing but since we’ve had virtually no precipitation since then it has actually started to turn yellow and brown.  I’m just hoping for some measurable rain very soon so that all of it doesn’t die before it got a chance to be even an inch tall!

The other concern of mine comes with what this potential drought means for the hay crops this year.  If we don’t get enough rain it could have a serious impact on hay yields and prices come Spring.

I’m just trying not to worry since we often do get lots of rain in February, March and April.  Plus there is not a lot I can do about it one way or another.  This situation is clearly not under my control!

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Hay in the Barn feels like $ in the Bank- Except it’s Actually the Opposite!

hay and straw on pallets

Yay! All the hay that will feed my flock until next June has arrived safely at the farm.  It is such a relief to have it delivered and stacked high.  My barn is filled to the ceiling with beautiful bales of oat and orchard/alfalfa hays.  There is very little room for the storage of anything else or much movement in the hallway but it doesn’t matter.  There comes a feeling of security with all that feed there.  It feels safe.

black dog in hay barnbarn hallway and dog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In fact I got so many bales this year ( 170) because of the new sheep that not all of it fit inside the barn even with the 12′ high stacks.  Some bales are left outside for now to be feed out first.  Hopefully before any rain shows up.  I feel confident that I can do this since it will only be the end of August by the time the outside stack is eaten.

 

 

 

 

hay and straw on pallets