A marketing specialist says hay inventories are adequate.
Dale Leslein is based in northeast Iowa and covers Minnesota and Wisconsin as well.
“There’s a shortage of higher-end hay, but the market is not as strong as it has been since the dairy farmers changed how they get paid several years ago. The demand for top-end dairy hay is not as strong as it’s been in years past, but I wouldn’t call supplies burdensome by any means.”
He tells Brownfield hay supplies are slightly below a year ago.
“But there’s just a decline in livestock numbers, which is kind of keeping a cap on prices right now.”
Leslein says poor weather in December slowed hay auction activity, but runs are picking up this month.
