There is a high demand for hay because of the drought that has forced many ranchers to stretch their limited supply or sell off their livestock.
An even worse scenario is what lies ahead. With no rainfall of significance on the horizon, there’s no time to produce much hay across the Lone Star State to neither catch up with the demand nor restock the barns for winter.
A farm broadcaster friend in Oklahoma told me that the drought is not exclusive to Texas, but also has spread to Oklahoma and Kansas. Ranchers in the three states are trucking hay hundreds of miles from Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota.
Although some prices are inflated, other out-ofstate hay - where there’s an abundant supply - is reasonably priced if ranchers can pay the shipping cost. However, some prices for trucking could add from $50 to $75 per ton.
According to the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics, the average price of hay has climbed to more than $170 per ton this summer compared to $112 per ton last July.
Randy Carson, owner of the Abilene Livestock Auction, told the Abilene Reporter-News that he has no choice but to buy hay, no matter the price. Charley Christensen, Producers Livestock Auction general manager in San Angelo, told me the same thing last week.
“We have to feed the cattle every day. Normally, by the Fourth of July, I have 12,000 square bales put up in my barn for winter,” Carson said. “This year, you can’t find hay around here, so I have to get it shipped from South Dakota and the freight costs are killing me.”
The Texas Department of Agriculture recently updated the Hay Hotline (877- 429-1998), which connects ranchers in need with hay suppliers. The hotline now is being updated to include prices and sources for donated hay, along with contact information for transportation services to deliver hay and available grazing lands.
“Right now there is no pasture grazing, no hay and no end in sight for the drought,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. “The need for hay is dire and getting more desperate each day. Through the recent improvements made to the Hay Hotline, we hope to connect more ranchers with hay producers across the nation who has muchneeded forage. It’s critical to do what we can to preserve the cattle herd for which Texas is known and on which American consumers rely.”
Recently, I have received emails and phone calls from folks across the nation who read my columns on the San Angelo Standard-Times or Abilene Reporter-News websites inquiring on any number of questions about agriculture. Although my office is not a “clearinghouse” for agriculture information, I do try to answer their questions or pass them on to someone who can.
Earlier this week, I received a call from Al Cox in Michigan, who said he had more than two tons of hay in the field. “If there is an empty truck going to Texas, I would part with it at a pretty reasonable price.”
For more information call 231-846-4346.Via email, Jennifer Hayes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, stated: “I follow the weather and the drought down in Texas, because my brother lives in Cedar Park, Texas. A lot of people up here sure wish we could send you some of our rain seeing as you really need it really bad. Last night, I was watching our local ABC affiliate (KCRG-TV9, Cedar Rapids), and I saw a news story about some Iowa farmers sending bales of hay for Texas cattle.”
Copying Jane Jeschke in Miles, she said these are the same farmers in Luana, Iowa, with whom Lutheran Pastor Diane Eggemeyer has been in contact through the Lutheran Disaster Relief program.
“The hay is baled and ready to go to West Texas,” said the Miles minister Sunday. “The problem has been finding independent truckers to make the 1,000-plus-mile trip to Iowa and bring back the hay.”
By midweek, that prayer was answered, and a couple of truckloads arrived in Miles, 17 miles northeast of San Angelo. Also, I received a call from a reader in the Midwest who has heard about West Texas sheep flocks being liquidated because of the drought. He said he was interested in doubling his herd numbers with the “superior genetics” sheep he has been told have been raised in Texas. I referred him to Benny Cox, Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association president.
The America Sheep Industry Association website (sheepusa.org) also is offering a drought assistance service. To post information, email judym@ sheepusa.org.
On Wednesday, a posting came from mikecorn@ roswellwool.com, who wants pasture for up to 3,000 lambs weighing 50 pounds.
“We would like to get the lambs off the ewes and grow them out.”
Another rancher is looking to cost-share up to 900 ewes in Wyoming. “Ideal delivery would be Oct. 1, but can make arrangements for an earlier arrival,” he wrote. “We have more than 11,000 acres of grazing land designated exclusively for sheep with lambing barns able to handle up to 900 ewes. Lessee delivers ewes and retains ownership, and we cover all other expenses. We have extensive experience in intensive shed lambing.”
For more information, call Lisa Cunningham at 307-351-6005.
Don’t let the drought force you out of business. There are still opportunities in the agriculture industry, plus new ways to fight the drought. We need to look for them, if it means getting on the Internet.
Jerry Lackey writes about agriculture. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net or 325-949-2291.
