Missouri Dept. of Ag warns farmers of hay scam

Jun 14, 2023

Farmers have paid for hay through wire transfer and didn’t receive the hay

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is reminding farmers to practice vigilance when contacting potential hay sellers.

The department issued a warning on June 13 indicating it has received reports of farmers paying for hay via wire transfer but not receiving what they’ve paid for.

These incidents are exceptions but a good reminder for farmers to make sure they’re doing business with trustworthy people.

“The vast majority of sellers are legitimate and honest,” Chris Chinn, director of agriculture, said in a statement. “These few bad actors are taking advantage of a serious situation and hay shortage. Make sure the seller is legitimate before you purchase hay or any other products.”

Missouri farmers looking for hay from a legitimate seller can visit the ag department’s hay directory.

It can be sorted by county, hay type and bale type. Farmers can also post any hay they may have for sale.

The University of Missouri also has a hay listing resource farmers can consult.

Farmers looking for hay out of state can try the AgriHay Exchange.

Missouri is in a serious drought.

A recent drought monitor indicates 53.2 percent of the state is considered “total area in drought.”

As a result, Gov. Mike Parson introduced measures on June 13 to help farm families secure water and hay for livestock.

This includes offering access to hay in state parks and offering free special overwidth permits to help farmers and ranchers move hay.

The special permit allows drivers in Missouri to:

Haul hay loads of up to 12 feet and 6 inches in width using a blanket permit.
Haul hay loads up to 14 feet in width using single-trip permits.
Move hay during holiday periods and at night. At night, or when visibility is less than 500 feet, drivers must use a reflective, oversized load sign and clearance lights instead of the normal flags required at the edges of the load.

Farmers who become victims of hay scams are encouraged to contact police.

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