Hay dealer Chris Oliver, Burke, NY, has been charging the same price for his top-quality, small squares of timothy the past three years. He doesn’t expect that to change this year, either.
His business, Hay Express, gets $7.50/bale for first-cut crop and $8.75/bale for second cut. The prices include delivery to horse-farm owners and feed stores throughout New England. Oliver offers a $1/bale discount for a full load, which totals 800 bales.
His consistent prices are one reason why he has return customers, he says. “That’s one of our biggest selling points. We don’t jump all over.”
Hay Express buys 90,000-100,000 small squares of timothy from 10 to 15 growers in upstate New York and markets it from Vermont to Connecticut. And Oliver’s business continues to grow.
The past two years, he bought two used trucks to keep up with demand and needs a new one by winter. Oliver plans on giving the truck a unit number of P163, for Proverbs 16:3, because he feels so blessed.
Fuel prices continue to decline and quality hay supplies are on the rise. Near-perfect growing-season weather helped most producers realize a better-than-average year, he says.
“Certain areas of northern New York have had an abundance of hay for first cut and second cut. Some guys say they’ve had more hay this year than they’ve ever had.”
Click here to see more...