October rainfall challenges some Western growers

Seth Hoyt
Author of The Hoyt Report, providing hay market analysis and insight.

As if a depressed alfalfa hay market wasn’t enough of a challenge for hay growers in Idaho and Washington, above normal rainfall in October wreaked havoc on late season hay production. Growers who were close enough to dairies were green chopping alfalfa, and some put up hay with higher than normal moisture and sold it at a discounted price because it had to be fed right away. This was also happening in Central and Northern California. In northern Nevada, Supreme alfalfa hay that went in the stack was rained on before they could get it tarped. In Idaho, some growers who were not close to dairies and had alfalfa hay that was rained on in the windrow more than once were considering mulching the hay to avoid harvest costs on unmarketable hay. Some hay growers have said they are so glad this season is almost over.