Buying hay in fall: How screwed am I?

[RooTheDay]

For Very Exciting Reasons, I’m going to need to buy my own hay this fall.

I know the tariffs are going to make everything more expensive and I know that the weather is going to make everything more scarce. The problem is that I literally do not have a place to store it until mid-September.

My current mare eats about 50 lb a day free-choice (about 4% body weight.) It looks like three-string 3x3x8s are usually around 750 lb? So to lay in a year for her alone free choice, that would be roughly ~25 of those (or the small-bale equivalent depending on what’s available and logistically workable.) Ideally, I would like to have enough of a supply to add a 2nd horse who would likely be about the same size, so it would either be around double that amount (to go free choice) or the same amount (but each of them only gets the minimum of 2% body weight–which I’m not against; I can supplement with grain, and I usually do anyway because I keep my horses in fairly heavy work year-round.) No concerns around IR presently, fortunately.

So how screwed am I likely to be if I wait until the fall to buy a year’s worth? Do I need to start calling people now and trying to find someone who will store for me until I can pick up then, or will I likely be okay waiting until September to buy? Since I know this is pretty local, I’m in Maryland

[Texarkana]

I’m in Maryland. I can’t store a year’s worth of hay. I buy small loads all winter and at reasonable prices.

You won’t be screwed at all.

[JB]

Always line things up as soon as you can, including 1-2 backups if possible. Some farmers are quite ok storing your hay until you pick it up, either for free, or for a fee (which may mean the entire purchase price, always a risk)

If the farmer won’t hold your hay, first come first served, then ask him what the situation typically is that time of year. Maybe he usually has plenty to sell well into Nov/Dec. Maybe he only has Fall cutting at that time

My last, and current hay guy (I’m in NC fwiw) have always had plenty of hay in Sept and even into December, but once the weather starts getting cold, it starts going fast (like people suddenly realized “oh crap I gotta feed hay” )

Many farmers like to supply their regular customers first, so the sooner one knows you’re in the market for X bales, he’s more likely to keep you on his list

[luvmyhackney]

I’m close to MD and never have issues buying year round hay. You can also pre-pay and have a trust worthy hay guy store it for you. Did that last year and it worked well.

[Simkie]

I always buy hay in the fall. Second cut doesn’t come off the field until late summer. You’ll be golden.

[RooTheDay]

Whew, this is reassuring–thank you all so much.

I’m usually a pre-planner/buy-in-bulk type, but there’s a lot of other stuff that needs to be done in the next couple months, and the logistical aspects of it will be made much easier if it’s safe to wait until then to buy (I have a loose idea of how much storage I have, but nothing firm yet, and there are multiple other reasons that I’ll have a better idea on my setup as we move into July/August.)

@Texarkana

I’m in Maryland. I can’t store a year’s worth of hay. I buy small loads all winter and at reasonable prices.

For the record, I would be ecstatic to receive DMs from locals with their hay suppliers’ names, should anyone be inclined to be so generous! That said I also completely understand the desire not to disclose and appreciate the insight either way.

[luvmyhackney]

In WV, my hay guy is cutting his second cut end of this month depending on rain. He usually gets 4 cuts out of his fields. Areas in MD are similar.

I got gorgeous 4th cut alfalfa last year in Oct. from MD. It smelled like hay candy.

[Simkie]

Yeah, when I was in MN, I got a beautiful fifth cut.

In CT, there have been years where second is coming off the fields in November.

I don’t think buying in the fall is a problem, though, even in MD.

[Texarkana]

@RooTheDay

Whew, this is reassuring–thank you all so much.

I’m usually a pre-planner/buy-in-bulk type, but there’s a lot of other stuff that needs to be done in the next couple months, and the logistical aspects of it will be made much easier if it’s safe to wait until then to buy (I have a loose idea of how much storage I have, but nothing firm yet, and there are multiple other reasons that I’ll have a better idea on my setup as we move into July/August.)

@Texarkana

I’m in Maryland. I can’t store a year’s worth of hay. I buy small loads all winter and at reasonable prices.

For the record, I would be ecstatic to receive DMs from locals with their hay suppliers’ names, should anyone be inclined to be so generous! That said I also completely understand the desire not to disclose and appreciate the insight either way.

No problem!

Buying hay in Maryland is not hard… or at least not in my part of Maryland. It’s not like when I lived in other states and you had to offer up your first born child to get the number of a supplier.

[FitToBeTied]

Gas prices and weather will effect prices more than tariffs. The last two years, because of droughts, prices went up and no one in this area got to a third cutting. This year with all the rain everything is growing. The question will be will it be too wet to make hay?

I tend to buy as much as I can store when I buy hay. I’ll probably be buying second cut in a few weeks.

[Mcl1]

Just some general hay buying advice: if possible, I would recommend buying a small amount (from that cutting) first to make sure the quality is what you want. Might not be as big of an issue in areas where a majority of hay is for the horse market - but at least around me, people’s idea of “horse quality” hay can vary a lot. I made the mistake of having 200+ bales of “horse quality” hay delivered without seeing it in person and it was full of weeds. Now I always ask to buy 5 or so bales, and split them all open to take a look before committing to more.

[Mosey_2003]

@Mcl1

I made the mistake of having 200+ bales of “horse quality” hay delivered without seeing it in person and it was full of weeds.

Not that this is necessarily what happened, but a lot of “hay guys” really dislike horse women and don’t like being asked for “horse quality” hay, I’ve heard a story or three about them dumping hay like this on horse people on purpose.

[SusanO]

Because of the humidity here I usually buy hay in early May or late April - depending on the weather conditions in Tennessee and when people up there are doing a first cutting. Less chance of being rained on in the transport. I count on this hay to last me until October or November when dry weather patterns set in and I can transport without rain. Also - my climate here is very humid all summer and hay starts to get musty in storage after a few months. Once it dries out and gets cooler this is less of a problem. So in the Fall I am getting a late cutting or I am buying Western hay which is pricier but great quality. I am fine paying more as long as it is good quality and there are quite a few people in Tennessee bringing in western hay so if I buy late I am still able to find great hay. I have bought as late as February and gotten nice hay. But you do need to be dealing with the right people. Some people are honest but they do not have the networks that the larger wholesalers have.

You are in Maryland so you have so many better options than I have in Alabama. Just find the good growers/resellers and you should be fine.

[TheJenners]

@Simkie

I always buy hay in the fall. Second cut doesn’t come off the field until late summer. You’ll be golden.

Same! I almost always get my hay in October so I get second cut timothy. Plus it gives me all summer to save summer-events overtime to pay for it…

[cayuse]

I’m on the “I get hay in the Fall” list too and never had a problem.

[tabula_rashah]

I’m in Maryland and we’ve got 11 horses at the barn my friend and I split. We get a truck load of squares every 2-3 months and 4 rounds every 2-3 weeks. There’s no way I could store a year’s worth of hay. We buy local grown, grass mix. I try to get 1st cutting as much as possible

[tabula_rashah]

PS if you’re local to Cecil Co my small bale supplier is Chesapeake Gold Farm

[CalPal]

Hi - I’m in Northern VA and get mine delivered in the fall but I usually check in around now to let my supplier know how much I think I will need and he’s been great about setting it aside for me.

That said, his prices have really jumped in the past two years. Not to hijack but for all of you MD folks do you mind sharing what you pay for small squares, second cut orchard grass mix if that’s what you feed?

[Texarkana]

@CalPal

Not to hijack but for all of you MD folks do you mind sharing what you pay for small squares, second cut orchard grass mix if that’s what you feed?

The past couple years I’ve been paying the in the neighborhood of $9 for 2nd cutting orchard.

I’m not particular about which cutting I get as long as my horses eat it and it’s safe.

[tabula_rashah]

I rarely get 2nd cutting but if I do get a few bales it’s usually around $12
1st cut HEAVY orchard bales I get for $9.75 delivered and stacked - all I have to do is text them a week or two before I am out and voila! hay appears