Hay supply looks pretty good for Wisconsin thanks to a good 2022 crop. Wisconsin is an “island of good supply” in the midst of extreme shortages across the country, according to Emeritus Extension Forage Specialist Dan Undersander. He provides insight into what we can expect for 2023’s crop and if winter kill is an issue.
“The hay supply is at a fifty year low and there are a lot of regions that are short,” explains Undersander. “We didn’t have the drought that much of the western half of the U.S. had. This being their second year of drought, Wisconsin has a big advantage in terms of the amount of hay we have for sale.”
While supply may be at a low, the price of hay is still near a record high. The price has stayed fairly consistent throughout the winter at $250/ton in large square bales. Undersander encourages those buying hay to pay attention to the quality and says they should buy by the ton versus the bale to be cost efficient.
If you’re looking to buy hay now, Undersander offers some ‘buyer beware.’ He suggests to get hay tested at a forage lab, such as the UW Soil and Forage Lab: https://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/
“Overall I’d say for Wisconsin growers, we’re looking at good hay prices with a good opportunity to sell.” says Undersander.
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