Eddie: New & Old Inventory Going Fast

Livestock owners across the Pacific Northwest are encouraged to purchase their hay now, before supplies run out. Growers in all three states report lower than normal old crop stocks since so many livestock producers needed feed during the drought when pasture conditions suffered. Andrew Eddie, Vice President of the Washington state Hay Growers Association said in the Moses Lake area, a lot of stackyards getting cleared out now.

“I don’t know how we’re going to look heading into winter, especially if we get a hard winter like they’re talking.  We’ll see how hay inventory stacks up heading into around the February/March mark, to see if there is any left.”

The Idaho Hay And Forage Association has a similar message, saying there are many questions how long the current supplies can last.

Eddie added his advice for growers right now, watch your numbers when it comes to what you’re putting into your crop.

“Fertilizer prices are severely elevated, labor cots, pretty much all input costs are skyrocketing even with the market up, so just kind of be mindful of what you’re putting in," Eddie noted. "See what you can do to alleviate some of the stress of prices kind of fluctuating very heavily day to day on the input side and just pay attention to those numbers.”

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