North Carolina Braces For Low Hay Supplies

By  Jeff Holmquist

Hay prices increased slightly this year in parts of North Carolina. But lower yields, coupled with fewer acres planted to hay, could mean higher prices as winter approaches, reports Derek Teague, Catawba.

Right now, Teague sells 4 x 5’ round bales of lower-quality fescue hay for $25-35/bale. His higher-quality hay ranges around $55 to $65/bale.

First-cutting yield for fescue hay was about half that of a normal year, which he attributes to a light frost in late March or early April. “It never seemed to take off growing much after that.” Second-cutting yield was an improvement, he says.

But overall hay supplies will likely lag across the state, fears Teague, whose 500 acres of fescue hay and pasture are largely used to feed his 150-cow beef herd. About 25% of his hay goes to the local pleasure-horse market.

“A lot of pasture land and hay ground went to row crops this year. I sprayed some hay ground down to plant soybeans when they were $14-$15/bu. Now I wish I had it back in hay. I know hay is going to be short.”