And although I know I should be doing a happy dance for the fact that we're set for the year in hay, there were a few "snafus" in the acquisition. One of them being a hundred dollar snafu.
The first six bales we got from the first cutting were $40, and it was really good green hay. The next load was supposed to be river bottom hay. When I talked to the hay guy a little over a week ago, these bales were going to be $50, which was fine by me because river bottom is usually of a better quality.
Well, Paul called me from where he was meeting the hay guy to load up the trailer and says that it's not fifty bucks a bale, but sixty bucks. I say, fine, just get it on the trailer. Right now I'm feeling lucky we even got this load. But a extra hundred bucks gone, just like that.
Well, he comes home and brings me a sample of the hay in his hand. It is most definitely not what I was expecting, not nearly as nice as our first load and not nearly as heavy. They apparently waited too long to cut and although it isn't the crappiest hay I've seen, it's not what I had hoped for.
I know that I sound like an ungrateful bugger. I should be thrilled that we have our year's supply of hay when there will be people scrambling around in the next few months in almost-crazed desperation. Another blogging buddy mentioned that the big hay dealer just up north of us is O.U.T. of hay. I've never known them to be out of hay. And our local feed store said that they've been selling it as soon as it hits their driveway and they have no idea when additional shipments will be in, what they will be getting or how much it's going to cost.
I though that last year was a bad hay year, but this year is turning out to be even worse.
That's tough! Atleast you have some. Can you grow your own?
ReplyDeleteWhew. But I guess some hay is better than no hay.
ReplyDeleteAre you getting any rain? I thought I saw thunderstorms rolling around in AR and southern MO this morning.
Judy
Better safe than sorry at this point, I expect hay will continue to get more expensive as the Summer wears on.
ReplyDeleteNancy, the reason we have Godzilla (the bulldozer) is to make pasture. It's slow going though, but we should have some of the areas seeded this fall for spring greens.
ReplyDeleteFullfreezer, I was tempted to cut & paste a radar image of the rain. I kid you not, there was rain all around us two days ago, but a big gaping hole of NOTHING where we were. I just checked the radar now and there are spots, but nothing for us and doesn't look like later either. :(
Chai Chai, I bet that large rounds will be going for $80-$100 or more in the next couple of months unless we get rain NOW and for several weeks in a row. The grass is D.E.A.D., there is no renewal for what is there.
You're right, at least you have it put away, but that's a tough pill to swallow!
ReplyDeleteIt just doesn't feel good to have to pay more than you expected for hay that's of inferior quality. Will your animals eat the inferior hay? Our goats were always a little picky about their hay. The horses would eat what the goats wouldn't though. But I guess poor hay will taste better than no hay, right? Glad you have the amount you do stashed away. Praying for rain for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have your hay put away for the year. It's hard to swallow a cost increase like that, but it sounds like you are one of the lucky ones. Good luck with the rain...we're hoping to get some soon too!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Mama Pea - will your animals eat it? Yes, its nice you have the hay when people around you will be scrambling to get theirs...but if the animals won't eat it, it doesn't matter. :( I sure hope we all get some rain soon...
ReplyDeleteErin, Tough pill but it's one that we need.
ReplyDeleteMama Pea, the hay isn't "that" bad and the mule/horse will eat it, but if I gave it to the goats they'd waste at least half of it. One of the reasons I've been wanting to have the goats and horse/mule together hoping that the equines would eat what the picky diva goats didn't eat.
Lisa Lynn, getting the hay is a big relief. Rain, not so much lucky enough I guess :(
Mama Tea, yes, they will eat it, but the goats would waste at least half of it, making that $60 bale basically a $120 bale. So I think we'll save the better bales for the goats and leave the new bales for the equines.
We sure don't need another bad hay year. I'm glad ya'll were able to get some now instead of later when it will probably be crappier and even more expensive. :(
ReplyDelete