Many producers are often forced to stretch hay supplies in order to make it through the winter feeding period. The following information is a reminder of the management strategies that can help farmers provide proper nutrition to their animals during the winter.
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Farmers should sign up for the FSA Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). During years of drought, there are often fewer hay supplies for farmers to feed their cattle during the winter. This program offers compensation to producers that have experienced forage losses due to drought. Payments are direct-deposited after the application is completed and approved. Use this money to purchase hay and feed. For more information about the LFP, visit the
USDA Farm Service Agency website page. Famers can also call the state FSA office at (334) 279-3500 for further information.
Determine Hay/Roughage and Supplemental Feed Needs
Farmers should take an inventory now to see how many days of feed they have on hand. The Alabama Extension animal science and forages regional agents can help with the process. Visit the Alabama Extension website to to find the agent in your area. Find more information on alternative feeding strategies in the content piece Alternative Feeding Strategies for Beef Cattle.
Buy Necessary Hay/Roughage
The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) website has an Alabama Hay Listings page. There, farmers can see several listings of hay for sale throughout the state. Each listing has detailed information on the location, hay type, number of bales, bale weight, and contact information of the seller. Some individuals selling hay offer delivery. If farmers need reliable trucking, they can contact the Alabama Trucking Association at 1-877-277-TRUK for a list of members in their area.
It is critical to have the hay quality tested to determine how much supplementation is required for livestock. Details on how to sample are located in the publication
Collecting Forage Samples for Laboratory Analysis. Producer can find the necessary application form in the content piece Forage and Feed Analysis.
Buy Necessary Supplement
Producers should conduct a forage analysis to determine the overall nutritional value, and then work with their Extension animal science and forage regional agent to develop an appropriate supplemental feeding plan. The Alabama Commodity Feed Contact List is an additional resource that can be used to locate feedstuffs.
Source : aces.edu