Feed Prices!!!!

[Blonde Filly]

When is the increase in feed going to end??? I never thought I would see the day when feed would be over 15.00 a bag!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: My feed has been going up with every order here lately. And people want to pay less for horses now too...this economy is not going to be good for a while. I am thankful I cut my own hay, but with the droughts year after year that is even getting crazy for people. The other day I bought a bale of alphalfa hay for my one mare needing more milk supply for her foal and it was 9.00 bucks for a small bale!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: I don't see how breeders will be able to continue at these crazy rates. All the Vets are going up due to fuel cost as well. I know my Vet said their last quarter had been the slowest in 8 years!!! So what does that mean, the horses are not getting proper vet care? This is pretty scary and I think we are facing some rough times ahead! :no:

[maggiecat]

I think horse people in general are cutting way back, in my area. We are a hay-growing area-central Washington state--and we have had a hay shortage for two years. A lot of farmers have taken out hay fields for corn, for ethanol. I used to free feed good grass/alfalfa hay because I knew it was better for broodmares; but hay is double what it was a few years ago ($9 to $12 a bale, and I think it is quite a bit more in the Seattle side of the state). So I am much more careful about how much I feed...And grain! I don't feed much anyway, but it is so expensive now. And as a stallion owner, I have people offer me mares to lease(for free) all the time... It will probably swing this way for a while, and then recover (the economy!).

[Fire_fly]

agreed on this and wanted to add that I just priced out shippers for a long haul from Canada to the USA and found all are giving me the "adendum" to thier quotes based on rising fuel costs.

[Reiter]

I pay $16/bale for Alfalfa here and having to feed pregnant/lactating warmbloods, a bale gets sucked up before you can bat an eye. It hurts for sure, especially since selling the foals is much harder too now. I've always been prepared to keep them until they are under saddle (have the room, do my own training etc.) but I never counted on gasoline and feed prices go that sky high! :(
I can take care of what I got, but I get emails etc. almost every day from people wanting to find homes for their horses! It's sad!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FriesianX]

Yeah, just bought some grassy/alfalfa for $15/bale, and that was "cheap"! I was thinking of going back today to buy some more, but someone called right after we loaded up as much as I could fit on the truck and they bought everything that was left :eek: Prepaid my annual truck and trailer load of rye/alfalfa, and the price is up 30% from last year, and that doesn't count shipping it here. Meanwhile, horse prices are down, no one is buying babies, and people are calling me all the time offering up broodmare leases, NICE mares.

I suspect, once the economy bounces back, we'll see sport horse prices jump, but HOW many years will that be? It will be the result of many breeders giving up - supply and demand. But it may take several years.

[spacely]

Yup, I'd be thrilled with $15/bale! I bought 8 bales of hay yesterday to last until my delivery comes & it was $20.40/bale for grass & $18.75 for alf. Feed has gone way up too as well as shavings. I remember when a few years ago when hay was around $10-12/bale & I thought that was expensive. How I wish those days were back.

[rideagoldenpony]

I feed Purina Equine Junior to my youngsters, and at our local farmer's co-op, it has jumped to $19 a bag!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: I drive an hour away to stock up at a small family owned feed store in another town, where it is "only" $15 a bag!

Fortunately we raise a "hardy, native breed" and don't have a lot of expensive feed requirements, for the most part. We are on 100 acres, do the vast majority of our own (grass) hay, and are currently considering the purchase of an additional 60 acres of hay ground around the corner, which would give us all the grass hay we'd ever need, in addition to hay to sell. It's looking like a pretty good idea with the shortage of hay that has occurred in our area as more and more farms are developed, or the old timers that have always hayed certain fields either retire or pass on.

As far as the market goes, on the plus side, we are not having any trouble selling stock, and the inquiries continue at the same speed I would expect for this time of year.

[FLIPPED HER HALO]

When I bought hay a month ago it was $14 a bale for rye grass and $10 for alfalfa. The rye is really nice with a lot of green. When I bought grain at the feed store a week ago it was $16.50 a bag.

[Shawnda N]

The cost of hay varies a lot in North America depending where you are. The cost of grain has gone up everywhere.
For hay I feed Timothy with a bit of Alfalfa in it. The bales weigh about 50 lbs. each and I paid $2.50 a bale delivered and unloaded from a local farmer.
For a 88 lb. bag of a good quality mixed grain that is 12.5 % protein and 5 % fat I am now paying almost $20.00 a bag + 14% tax on top of that. Two years ago that same bag was $14.00 a bag.
I am in the Montreal area in Canada.

[butlerfamilyzoo]

Oh please let it end! 2yrs ago, we were in central TX, and i got my last load of hay at $4 a bale... Last year, we were paying $15 a bale, it was being hauled in from CA... I dont know what type of hay the one kind was, but it looked like the typical bermuda, the other option was alfalfa at that price... As far as i know, you can still buy the CA hay for those prices, so interesting to hear that you guys actually LIVING in CA are paying more! We moved up to OK this winter and found that hay is hard to come by as so much was flooded and ruined last year. We cant afford the squares, IF you can even find them, so we get two round bales a week, presently $45 each, and pull hay morning and night to feed. If i left my guys on a round bale, they would be rolly polly and i would be broke! We have 15 head, 10 of those are fed Triple Crown Growth... Which i love, and in TX was paying $13.25 a bag for it... Here, i have to drive over an hour away to a dealer that actually HAS it, and its pushing $16 a bag. We've started cutting back on how much of it we feed now and add in soaked beat pulp. The local store sells 40lb bags of beat pulp for $12... But if we drive 30min away, we can get it for $8... Have no idea why that is!

It is getting scary. We did decide to breed this year and will have 4 foals coming in '09, but i went for big name stallions, hoping this helps them sell, and i plan on marketing them a little below average if i have to, hoping to get them sold quickly if its not what i'm looking to keep for myself. However, i'm still sitting on a '07 colt and have only had ONE email on him since he foaled...

We are definately cutting back our numbers here for those horses who are not used that often, and ponies i bought for resale are marked low to sell fast. I'm hoping to be down to 8 by the time these mares foal in '09... But its getting scary!

On the upside, we do have 40 acres we do not use that we could bale for ourselves, but let a friend bale it for his cattle right now. The problem for us is storage. There is no where here to store large amounts of hay. Makes it hard to stock up, we are stuck paying high prices.

[krfarms]

I just bought 2 bags of Progressive Grass" and it was over $50.00!!!--yes 2 bags!!! I am wondering if it is really worth the extra $ when I feed everyone else Safe Choice at $15.00/bag!!!!. I am only feeding the Progressive to my best broodmare and to a smaller yearling (hoping he will grow). Hay is another topic all together. Our pastures are so poor I call the grass in them "entertainment value" I would probably need about 25 acres per head to try to support them on what they produce. So I go thru LOTS of hay. Especially since it has been a really cold and snowy winter. What am I saying winter - we got 1 foot of show since midnight and it is still snowing at 3:00PM!!! So much for spring. My only saving grace is that my hay supplier (which I have used many years thru the doughts and good times), had a bumper crop last year. Good mountain grass is $7.00/bale delivered. And he drives 4 hours to bring it to me. I could pick it up at his barn for $5.00 -But I don't have a big flat bed and with 8 horses I go through a lot of hay. I have stuck with him and paid whatever price he has demanded over the years, I hire 5 guys to unload the hay and put it in my loft, and I take it ANYTIME he can bring it..

[Cashew4ever]

I am in Ottawa/Kingston Area, Canada

In Kingston we are paying $2.50/bale delivered and in Ottawa $3.69/bale delivered. This is good quality grass hay with some alfalfa mixed.

My old mare gets Purina Omelene 100 @ $11.00/bag and the coming 2 year old get Purina Equine Juvenile for $13.00/bag

[Hillside H Ranch]

I do feel for those of you in areas that have such incredibly high hay prices. I honestly wouldn't be able to own horses if I was paying that much for hay! Here small squares of the most beautiful alfalfa orchard grass mix are going for $3.50 bale. But we actually feed the giant squares bales, which are usually about the equivalent of 17-19 small squares and you can get alfalfa large bales for $75-100/bale. We feed some of that and large grass bales (that are much cheaper), but I think the thing that helps is that the hay is local so you save on those fuel costs. It is still very much an agricultural community here with great neighbors, so we just borrow the neighbors flat bed trailer to do all the hauling.
Grain is expensive, just like everywhere, but still not as high as what you all are saying. For some reason, our Safe Choice is much less expensive, like around $13/bag. The Grow N Win is pricey at $25/bag, but it has always been high. Shavings are $100/dump truck load delivered and unloaded, but again it is from a local saw mill.
I had a client drop some mares off today for foaling out and they had talked to one of their friends in Nebraska who was complaining about hay prices. They are paying $5/bale for alfalfa there and I laughed and told them about some of the hay prices around the country. Makes $5/bale look pretty good.

[Blonde Filly]

My feed guy is telling me that he has been given notice by Purina it will go up another 2 to 3.00 per bag just in the month of March!!! This is getting really insane all the way around!!! :mad:

What I do find interesting is if Purina is selling it to all dealers for the same price was is for ie cashew4ever paying 13.00 per bag for Eq Junior by Purina and my feed store is 16.95 for the same bag of feed by Purina...hum sounds like the dealers are making a nice cut for themselves with every bag too!!!!

[BeastieSlave]

My TC feed has increased $.25/bag every two weeks for the last couple months....
Triple Crown Complete is $16.99 and whole oats are $12.99 per 50# bag now :eek:

[bludejavu]

I'm paying $14.75 per bag for Triple Crown Complete but that is with a .50 discount because we buy 20 bags or more. I'm paying $14.99 for Equine Jr. and Sr. I can't find any decent bermuda hay for less than $8.00/bale (and I refuse to pay that for Bermuda) so we're feeding Timothy at $10.50/bale. It's more but the bales are huge and I feel they're worth the cost.

[Galileo1998]

What I do find interesting is if Purina is selling it to all dealers for the same price was is for ie cashew4ever paying 13.00 per bag for Eq Junior by Purina and my feed store is 16.95 for the same bag of feed by Purina...hum sounds like the dealers are making a nice cut for themselves with every bag too!!!!

Purina isn't even the same company in Canada as they are in the States, and don't generally even have the same products. Differences in price from dealer to dealer generally have more to do with extra freight costs and the possiblilty of one dealer getting better prices because of the volume they are able to order and sell.

Prices have been going up, simply because corn, wheat, soy, oats and almost everything else that makes up a bag of feed have seen massive price increases to go along with the increasing cost of freight due to the much higher cost of fuel.

[ThrghbrdJmpr]

I just got gorgeous 2nd cut timothy with a little alfalfa, large square bales for $4.25 a bale delivered. Everyone in the barn wants it, but they think it's too expensive. They can keep using their cheap yellow hay.. I'll keep my nice stuff. I about died when I bought grain though. Last time I bought Ultium was in the fall and it was $15.99 a bag, it's $19.99 a bag now! I'm glad I don't live in California.. as a previous poster said I wouldn't be able to afford my horse.

[Daydream Believer]

I think one factor in the rapid increases in grain is that it is a commodity and traded as such. I work part time as a financial analyst for a coffee manufacturer and the commodities market is crazy. Coffee has never cost so much either. I suspect that Purina and other large manufacturers "lead" the feed market in pricing and the others follow. In Coffee in the US, Folgers leads the price changes and then everyone else does when they move.

I have been told by our feed dealer that we won't see much relief in prices until midsummer at least and only then if the crops are predicted to do well.

[genevieveg17]

Alfalfa is running about $15. for a 110# bale. Grass is $21.00 for a 100# bale.
It would be ok if the quality was consistant but it is not. I have recently started buying alfalfa/grass pellets in bulk and the horses are happy. There is no waste. It used to kill me to see all of the wasted hay that the mares pulled out of the feeders during the feeding frenzy then peed on. Ugh. They still get a little hay just so they have something to munch on throughout the day since they basically hoover the pellets.

[tri]

I'm in an area that is one of the hardest hit for the drought and I am not paying anymore for alfalfa than I have paid for the last 3 years and I use Strategy with no price increases either. Matter of fact, I'm still able to get large round bales here in the end of the cold weather and that hasn't happened in the last few years- $65-$85 per bale bermuda mix.

[spacely]

I'm glad I don't live in California.. as a previous poster said I wouldn't be able to afford my horse.

What you have to remember is that even though feed prices are higher here, so is everything else ie: cost of living, salaries, fuel, etc.

[Signature]

I feel your pain - we feed Strategy which is $12.75 retail now. We buy in bulk so luckily get a discount, but not THAT much at all... Hay here is going for $8-$10 for grass and $15-$20 for alfalfa. We go through a pallet of feed every 3 weeks or so and 4-5 bales a day (they mostly live out - but drought got most of our grass planted for the winter). Doing the math is a huge ouch - I sure hope things come back down. The way futures look and with gas prices, etc, not to mention the drought here on the east coast, it's not looking good.

We used to measure how many horses we could have by space restrictions, but now it's sheerly by how many we can afford! We have 12 right now w/ babies on the way. Let's hope things improve! :)

[aurum]

It all depends on how many kilos (weight) is what price. Our prices here in Germany have raised enormously the last 6 months too.

It was about 36 Euro for 100 kg of the horse feed I am feeding and now it is at 44 Euro for 100 kg. This is without tax of 7%.

[FLIPPED HER HALO]

My saving grace each year is my pasture grass. The back 6-acre pasture sustained my horses (2.5 at the time) for months prior to irrigating it. We were behind on having new irrigation trenches dug and ended up chasing green grass the rest of summer. This year we are good to go and will start irrigating as soon as water is available in April. We've planted the front 2-acres in pasture grass and my mare/foal will go in that one while the geldings have the back pasture and the pony pouts on minimal grass.

I feed Nutrena Sr. and Youth now that we are expecting. Every few months the feed store puts the senior on sale for $10 a bag....so I stock up. I'm waiting on that sale this year and think I'll buy even more bags than usual.

Financially I'm fine and my horses don't suffer. I have to admit it's times like this I seriously wonder how those hoarders survive all the horses they have! One lady I know of has a good 20 horses scattered throughout the area that are all pasture ornaments.....can't even imagine that feed bill.

[camohn]

I'm paying $14.75 per bag for Triple Crown Complete but that is with a .50 discount because we buy 20 bags or more. I'm paying $14.99 for Equine Jr. and Sr. I can't find any decent bermuda hay for less than $8.00/bale (and I refuse to pay that for Bermuda) so we're feeding Timothy at $10.50/bale. It's more but the bales are huge and I feel they're worth the cost.

My TC Legends is 11.00 a bag here. Thankfully we grow out own hay though our neighbor is not so happy as the last 20 bales we sold her I told her that is the last I can spare....need the rest to get us through to the May cutting.

[TrueColours]

Those prices sound unbelievably ... LOW!!! ;)

I am paying $29.00 a bag for the Buckeye Grow N Win, and at that price, every pellet they drop onto the floor you feel like rushing in and putting it back in their buckets for them

But I am happy with it, so what can you do???

[Fenway]

It sucks but they have to eat. I'm just trying to grin and bear it. ;)

[bludejavu]

My TC Legends is 11.00 a bag here. Thankfully we grow out own hay though our neighbor is not so happy as the last 20 bales we sold her I told her that is the last I can spare....need the rest to get us through to the May cutting.

We grow our own hay too...normally. However, the lousy drought made a HUGE difference in our hay crop this last year. We were able to round bale enough to feed the 10 pastured broodmares thru the end of February and we just had to buy some round bales this weekend. My husband was none too happy to pay $70 per bale but they were very decent bales, stored inside so at least we got our money's worth. Our spring grass is just now starting to come up so we can't rely on pasture for them yet.

[Blonde Filly]

With more droughts predicted, what will it mean for the future of our hay?
At what point do you say, enough is a enough and I can't afford it?

What price on feed? 50.00 per bag?

What price on a bale of hay? 50.00 per bale?

What is your limit? It seems our country right now is going out of control!

[Castlegate]

I was at my local feed store this weekend and they were telling me that the Nutrena truck that had just left put an .86 per BAG fuel charge on each bag..! The truck had hundreds of bags all going to different locations...that is a pretty hefty fuel charge..

Long story short...looks like I am going to have to start feeding their own grain as the writing is on the wall..looks like they will stop selling Nutrena before long.

[ponygirl]

Buckeye Grow and Win here in FL (in my area) is almost 30 a bag so about the same TrueColours.
TC 30% supplement is $22.50 so a bit better. Grain is cheaper than the ration balancers.
Also, when we are talking bales adn prices, it would be interesting to hear the weight of the bales. We pay $19-20 bucks a bale for 60lb avg bales. 12 for 43lb bales.

Seminole Wellness sky rocketed after the split from Spillers and the name change. What used to be Meadow Herb Competition Mix at $15 a bag is now $19 a bag under the Wellness brand. TC Complete - $16 a bag.

[tri]

It seems our country right now is going out of control!

Now, lets not get unreal, here. Despite what the media is telling you, our country's economy is still at an all time high. We are not in a recession and probably will not see one. All you are seeing is a slow down in the HUGE BOOM that has been going on since the dotcom bubble burst. Our stock market is at record highs -much higher than in the so-called Clinton boom years. Our economy is strong, interest rates are low, unemployment is low and, if oil wasn't being speculated on in the commodities markets, we wouldn't be seeing this fuel cost run up. It isn't the economy, it is speculative commodities trading that is creating this.

Maybe you don't remember what it was like when the democrats were in office when taxes were super high, interest rates were in double digits - try paying 15% mortgage rates on your farm and you will know what ouch is - and employment was skyrocketing. Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater and return to those kinds of years.

[TrueColours]

ponygirl - I would die if we had to pay those hay prices!!! :eek:

I am paying $3.25 a bale for gorgeous alfalfa/timothy mix and the average in Ontario is about $4.50 a bale for excellent quality hay

This spring we are planting 30 acres in hay fields so from that point onwards I have a deal worked out with the local farmer that is cutting and baling for me that all of my hay is free so that will be a huge help

I have a terrific price on bedding - I work for a company that manufacturers a straw pelleted bedding so my bedding costs are extremely low. Its just that darned Buckeye that elevates my cost of keeping the critters each month! :D

As bad as you think you have it, when I hear $10.00 - $12.00 for hay, I realize I should just shut my mouth and keep quiet ... ;)

[time fault]

Alright I am moving to Canada, eh?

[Reiter]

OMG Ponygirl, you win the price! :(
Not only are your hay bales more expensive than ours, but they are also much lighter!
At least here they average around 100lbs!
I've been trying to convince my husband to irregate at least some of our pastures. He always said it's too expensive. Well, the way feed prices are going I think we would actually save money that way. Our grass is just starting to come in this time of year and by June everything is brown and dead! A month or two of not feeding hay is the most I've ever gotten and that was when I had less horses. The last couple of years I've been feeding hay year round, sometimes 3x/day! By the way, gasoline just hit the $4 mark in some parts of CA! :(

[ponygirl]

I emailed The Horse mag b/c they have been running articles about various states and hay and feed prices and how hard hit horse owners are. I mentioned they ought to look at Florida who has NO help from the Dept of Ag, unlike states such as KY and NC who's Ag Dept is trying to help. Kudos to those states! :) I got a reply stating that CA is paying 15 bucks a bale. I replied back asking if they knew the weight of the bales as I have good friends in CA and bales are that price but they weight 120lbs plus. Hay by the ton in my area is 520 a ton! Yes, 520! Florida cannot grow hay- period. Okay we can grow coastal which I won't feed b/c it's so finely stemmed here in FL and we can grow peanut hay which is $15 a bale in my area. I'd be jumping for joy for most of the hay prices everyone else is complaining about. :(

[time fault]

I'd be jumping for joy for most of the hay prices everyone else is complaining about. :(

In the same boat. Had to pay $25 for a 100-120lbs bale of alfalfa last winter which was a good price all things considered. However that is up too high for my taste now.
The small bales I used to get for $9 are now $12.50 and we are only talking 45lbs maybe 55lbs if you're lucky. I'll be happy when the oat hay comes in April.

[Edgar]

It seems to balance out, interest rates and taxes are lower, fuel and everything that needs to be transported is a bit higher.
There are a lot of differences from area to area and the demand and farmers switching to ethanol producing crops instead of hay and food has helped raise food and feed costs. Some are very happy with that but the majority of consumers do not share that excitement.

[Edgar]

I know my Vet said their last quarter had been the slowest in 8 years!!! So what does that mean, the horses are not getting proper vet care?

++LOL No, that means that just like people horses are healtier when they eat a Spartan diet and don't need a vet :)

[amdfarm]

I don't have it near as bad as some of you, but w/ more than a dozen horses it does add up!! I'm paying almost twice as much per round bale this year than in years past which really adds up as our winter has been especially long and hard this season. Come to think of it, I'm paying about twice as much per 55 lb square bale, too. The only good thing is that I get all of my hay delivered, set out and/or stacked. Various bag feed (Purina and Nutrena) has gone up $4-$7/bag since the fall.

My friends do their own hay, but after only getting three cuttings last year and having to buy quite of bit to get through til the next go around, they're thinking of putting another 20 acres in of hay until things improve. He'll lose some cash rent since it's in crops right now, but it'll be cheaper in the long run once it's in and growing. The current fields are questionable now due to all of the ice we had at the beginning of our earlier than winter, so we'll see in May what happens w/ hay in our area.

Really looking forward to spring and seeing the pasture grass start growing again so I can save some money for a change!!

Good luck everyone!!

[JustJump]

Now, lets not get unreal, here. Despite what the media is telling you, our country's economy is still at an all time high. We are not in a recession and probably will not see one. All you are seeing is a slow down in the HUGE BOOM that has been going on since the dotcom bubble burst. Our stock market is at record highs -much higher than in the so-called Clinton boom years. Our economy is strong, interest rates are low, unemployment is low and, if oil wasn't being speculated on in the commodities markets, we wouldn't be seeing this fuel cost run up. It isn't the economy, it is speculative commodities trading that is creating this.

Maybe you don't remember what it was like when the democrats were in office when taxes were super high, interest rates were in double digits - try paying 15% mortgage rates on your farm and you will know what ouch is - and employment was skyrocketing. Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater and return to those kinds of years.

Tri, you must be one of the top 5% whose fortunes have risen while the rest of the population is steadily sinking into debt. Take a look around--many are underemployed, have high monthly expenses, inadequate access to health care, and will be severely underfinanced during their golden years. With the cost of food, higher education, and gas/heat rising before our eyes, we are in for some serious reckonings. All those children who aren't being left behind are expected to obtain college education and advanced skills--but where are they all going to go to work in a stagnant economy?

We're complaining about our feed bills, but wait till it starts to affect the prices in the cereal and bread aisles at the supermarket!

[Blonde Filly]

Now, lets not get unreal, here. Despite what the media is telling you, our country's economy is still at an all time high. We are not in a recession and probably will not see one. All you are seeing is a slow down in the HUGE BOOM that has been going on since the dotcom bubble burst. Our stock market is at record highs -much higher than in the so-called Clinton boom years. Our economy is strong, interest rates are low, unemployment is low and, if oil wasn't being speculated on in the commodities markets, we wouldn't be seeing this fuel cost run up. It isn't the economy, it is speculative commodities trading that is creating this.

Maybe you don't remember what it was like when the democrats were in office when taxes were super high, interest rates were in double digits - try paying 15% mortgage rates on your farm and you will know what ouch is - and employment was skyrocketing. Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater and return to those kinds of years.

Are you kidding me!!! Do you not watch the news???!!!??:confused: Foreclosure rates have risen to 750 % in this country as of last night as reported on the news!!! Yes the rates are very low, but so what when the arms have come due, people losing jobs, fuel cost, grocery cost and ect the ecomomy is failing, despite the interest rate being low. I think the too low of a rate encouraged buyers that should have never been given loans and the mortage companies are all going under now...Country Wide Mortage went under until some foreign investors loaned them money to get back on their feet. I don't know where you are living right now and maybe you don't watch TV.....:confused: Everything has gone up in cost and people are losing their homes.

You remind me of Elizabeth on the View no matter what Bush/Repulblicans do she defends them...I don't care what party he is in, I just see what is happening with his leader ship. And as for Clinton when he left office he left a surplus of money in the treasury and Bush has it in the Trillions in the negative. Do the math!

This is effecting everyone, excpet the very wealthy.

[clanter]

Oh I wasn't aware the sky was falling

Our feed provider sold out, a small chain bought the operation and our feed prices have dropped 15% from last year. Hay prices have remained steady or decreased.

As the price of energy increases, we get more in royalty payments also...so around here the Sky is Blue, the days are warm and the horses are enjoying the weather

[quiet5]

Feed and shavings have skyrocketed in the past few months--but the gas prices--don't get me started! :eek::eek::eek:

[tri]

If you are basing your views of the world by what the news media is telling you, you seriously need to get a clue!!

Look at the FACTS, not the news hype from organizations who need to have ratings to generate revenues.

The FACT is that unemployment is still at historically LOW rates. If you are unemployed, you don't want a job.

The FACT is that subprime lending represents about 1-2% of the total loans out there.

The FACT is that older people in our population are more affluent than at any time in the American history and the retired Americans represents the MOST affluent section of our population.

These aren't my opinions, folks, these are documented facts.

Now, I agree, that too many people have too much debt -and all during a time that the economy has been booming. Blame it on the "feel good, have to have it now generation" but don't blame it on the government or the economy. Blame it on your poor decisions: car loans that go 7 years, 0% down on home loans, applying for credit card after credit card, multiple cell phones, blackberries, Ipods, a zillion channels for cable TV, stereo equipment, on and on and on. Listen to Dave Ramsey and get control of yourselves if you are sinking in debt. If you are, stop blaming the government or expecting the government to save you from yourselves.

Do you really want the government to tell you that you can't go out to eat or buy too many christmas presents so you don't "sink into debt"???

[ponygirl]

"If you are unemployed, you don't want a job."


Not in my area. Kennedy Space Center is looking at layoffs- a few thousand due to the shuttle program coming to an end. Another large employer just let go 250 jobs. My company, that just won a monster contract, had layoffs last year and we are only hiring 100 folks from outside the company- most likely will suck in KSC engineers. So, in my immediate area, no that is not remotely true.

[M. O'Connor]

"Buffett Says U.S. Is in Recession"

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-buffett.html?ref=business

Buffet is just succumbing to media hype? Gosh...if it can happen to him, how are the rest of us supposed to be able to separate fact from fiction?

[BeastieSlave]

Wasn't there just a thread like this? YES (http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=136378&highlight=bitch)! It started out venting about feed prices and became a debate about the economy/government. I don't think anything has changed since that thread - not the economy, not the broken records.

[clanter]

"If you are unemployed, you don't want a job."


Not in my area. Kennedy Space Center is looking at layoffs- a few thousand due to the shuttle program coming to an end. Another large employer just let go 250 jobs. My company, that just won a monster contract, had layoffs last year and we are only hiring 100 folks from outside the company- most likely will suck in KSC engineers. So, in my immediate area, no that is not remotely true.

Move to Mobile, AL... Airbus just won the new air tanker contract and is going build the final assembly plant there

[ponygirl]

Move to Mobile, AL... Airbus just won the new air tanker contract and is going build the final assembly plant there

Northrop Grumman won the contract. I work for NG. I think those working for KSC who are skilled in what AL plant needs, might do that- move.

[ponygirl]

Edgar- does your vet think that perhaps folks are now doing more of their own vaccinations to help save in costs? I know a lot in my area are now doing their own b/c of the cost savings. Not good for the vets at all!

[Edgar]

-"Take a look around--many are underemployed, have high monthly expenses, inadequate access to health care, and will be severely underfinanced during their golden years. With the cost of food, higher education, and gas/heat rising before our eyes, we are in for some serious reckonings. All those children who aren't being left behind are expected to obtain college education and advanced skills--but where are they all going to go to work in a stagnant economy?"-

++Fact is Tri is right in her statements above and the picture you paint was worse 10 years ago and we have not had a stagnant economy since. It is true off course that there are local economies hit by a downturn and you may be in such a place, in which case it is a blessing that the horse business is global and you can sell them anywhere with the help of cheap internet and cheap fast flights.

Ponygirl I would hope most people do their own vaccinations and call the vet when there is an actual problem. Our local vet clinics are expanding and the only reason they would be doing less business is if they are wanting to slow down or retire. This again has to do much with the local and personal circumstances and how good and established they are.

[tri]

I do my own vaccinations and have always done them as well as flushing my own mares, etc.

M'o'conner, I can NOT believe you just quoted something from the new york times. They are on the hot seat for liberal crap, especially after their article on McCain - even the other large publications have stated that the NY times has gone too far. Pure crap.

Again, the FACT is that the economy GREW, albeit a small number, in December which is the last reported numbers. You can NOT have a recession if the economy GROWS. Warren Buffet is one of the world's best known liberals and a staunch supporter of Hilary Clinton.

Btw, so you think that raising taxes is the answer? Both Clinton and Obama want to raise our taxes, garnish our bank accounts to force pay health insurance premiums. They also want to stop any foreclosures which would allow people to NOT have to pay their mortgages and you really think they are going to keep those folks at Kennedy Space Center working? What are they going to do? Order Kennedy NOT to layoff any workers?

Sorry, but it isn't going to happen. They aren't going to guarantee that you won't lose your job, send your kids to college for free and they aren't going to let you live in a house you can't afford for free either. All they are going to do is raise your taxes on top of all the other "rising costs". Is that what you want?

[Faiths CremelloWB]

To those of you paying $10+ per bale of hay how much do your bales weigh? I was just contemplating talking to my hay supplier for a discount as I buy so *MUCH* from him. I was getting small squares for 3.50 (2006-2007) and this year (2007-2008) they went to 4.00. Very nice timothy/orchard/alfal. mix and some straight alfal. or straight Timothy. Good solid (800-900lb) rounds last year were $30-35 and this year I am paying $47. Now I can not even find any and I am still holding out from buying the HUGE squares. They are so messy. And I am grumbling at these increases. I can not even begin to imagine how one can pay 10+ per small bale and then feed free choice hay. Are those the 3 twine bales or the small 2 twine???

I hope 2008 we have a better year for hay production!!! Let the prices go down... way down... back to the 2-2.50 I use to pay.

[Daydream Believer]

I was just at the feed store tonight and we have another big increase coming later this week. Black Oil sunnies will go up $5 a bag! Oats is going up as are a number of their other products. I am paying $11.30/50# bag of crimped oats now...not sure how much it will go up but I stocked up on oats today! I can't store much though so it won't help. I also buy Strategy and the latest increase on that raised my client feed bill over $300/year in one day.

What annoys me are the boarders who don't understand that a stable cannot absorb these sorts of increases and have tantrums when you discuss board increases. UGH!

[Mali]

The corn price for today - $6.05 per bushel! Guess what guys....feed prices won't be coming down anytime soon.

[Faiths CremelloWB]

glad I do not have boarders; that is tough. I have seen the grumbling that happens when board goes up. Being on my side I understand why the increases... boarders on the other hand, need a detailed explanation and even that may not help. I remember seeing an ad for full board at $250 per month and :eek::eek: at it cause how can one feed, bed and care for one of my horses for that cost. Maybe I send them a couple of my hard keepers and see how fast the board increases... teeehheeee

[Huntertwo]

There are a lot of differences from area to area and the demand and farmers switching to ethanol producing crops instead of hay and food has helped raise food and feed costs. Some are very happy with that but the majority of consumers do not share that excitement.

Well, we can than Al Gore for that along with his B.S. movie with the "sky is falling" mentality. Yes, we pay the price - as Edgar said farmers are switching to ethanol producing crops = hay shortage. :no:

[Huntertwo]

If you are basing your views of the world by what the news media is telling you, you seriously need to get a clue!!

Look at the FACTS, not the news hype from organizations who need to have ratings to generate revenues.

The FACT is that unemployment is still at historically LOW rates. If you are unemployed, you don't want a job.

The FACT is that subprime lending represents about 1-2% of the total loans out there.

The FACT is that older people in our population are more affluent than at any time in the American history and the retired Americans represents the MOST affluent section of our population.

These aren't my opinions, folks, these are documented facts.

Now, I agree, that too many people have too much debt -and all during a time that the economy has been booming. Blame it on the "feel good, have to have it now generation" but don't blame it on the government or the economy. Blame it on your poor decisions: car loans that go 7 years, 0% down on home loans, applying for credit card after credit card, multiple cell phones, blackberries, Ipods, a zillion channels for cable TV, stereo equipment, on and on and on. Listen to Dave Ramsey and get control of yourselves if you are sinking in debt. If you are, stop blaming the government or expecting the government to save you from yourselves.

Do you really want the government to tell you that you can't go out to eat or buy too many christmas presents so you don't "sink into debt"???

As I've stated in other posts, people have lived beyond their means for many years and now it is coming to bite them in the arse.
Years ago a 2,000 sq ft house was considered big. Now it is nothing to see 5,000 sq ft homes being built. And of course we need to have a BMW and a Lexus in the driveway to go along with the McMansion, never mind the pool in the back yard because that is what the Jones' have.

We live in a "I want it today" society and never worry about how we are going to pay for it until the Credit Card bill comes in the mail.

I know someone who can't even afford to put gas in his car, YET has Sirius Satelite in his car. :confused:

Sure blame the Government - after all, they should be taking care of us.

Has anyone ever heard of personal responsibility?

As far as a surplus with clinton? YES, because he CUT Defense Spending and look what the heck happened!!:mad:

We are NOT in a recession. Look it up - we have to meet certain criteria to be in a recession and we are not there.

The NYT??? :lol::lol::lol: A bunch of phony liars.. Their stock has plummeted due to all their B.S. made up stories. Ah, the John McCain story. Having a little thing on the side with a Lobbyist for favors.... Not a shred of evidence to back it up. No sources, nothing...

[deltawave]

Wowee, I didn't realize I was looking at things SO very wrongly! :lol:

What a rant! :eek:

[Faiths CremelloWB]

hello... read the thread title... Can we please stick to the topic...

how much do the bales weigh that are 10+ each? 120lbs? :cool:

[Edgar]

What are Black Oil Sunnies?????
Sounds horrible, not something I would feed my horses.

[Reiter]

The bales I get have 3 wires and are usually over 100lbs!

[deltawave]

Black Oil Sunnies = Black Oil Sunflower seeds. AKA bird seed. :lol:

[M. O'Connor]

11.50 today @ SStates for the last 18 bales they had of mixed grass/alfalfa, (about 50lb bales)

[AMDressage]

I pay:
$19.00/bag for Purina Born 2 Win.
$27.50/bag for Nutrena's Empower.
$12.50/bag for shreded beet pulp w/ molasses.
$12.95/bag for rolled/crimped oats.

Born 2 Win and Empower both last me about a month for 2 horses. Beet pulp lasts about 10 days, and oats lasts about 5 days.

40-50lb bale of coastal bermuda is about $6.25/$6.50 delivered.
Alfalfa is $14.95 at the feed store.

Shavings are $5.75/bag for the fine pine shavings. Thinking of switching to pelleted though.

[Oldenburg Mom]

I have not read the entire thread. I am going to read it as soon as I post this ...

I work at a feed store one day a week, and I know grain prices are headed waaaay north. Here's a great example: the chart is oat futures from the Chicago Board of Trade, where commodities are traded (remember Trading Places, the movie?)

I was going to look at this this morning anyway as I understand wheat futures are through the roof ...

What I want to know, next, is WHY grain prices are exploding.

[J Swan]

[quote=Oldenburg Mom;3053211

What I want to know, next, is WHY grain prices are exploding.[/quote]

Combination of drought, weak dollar, biofuel production (big one), poor harvests overseas, rising fuel prices.

Unless we get some rain, (where I live) doesn't look like 2008 is going to be any better.

[Sakura]

I have not read the entire thread. I am going to read it as soon as I post this ...

I work at a feed store one day a week, and I know grain prices are headed waaaay north. Here's a great example: the chart is oat futures from the Chicago Board of Trade, where commodities are traded (remember Trading Places, the movie?)

I was going to look at this this morning anyway as I understand wheat futures are through the roof ...

What I want to know, next, is WHY grain prices are exploding.

Hi OM,

My impression as to why grain prices are going through the roof (oats and wheat specifically) is that farmers are switching over and growing more corn for ethanol demands (they can make more $$$ and it is cheaper to grow, takes less water/less fuel to pump the water etc.). This is the FIRST time in American history that we are having to import wheat!

I'm glad I switched over to Horse Sense now... even with the chopped Timothy it is costing me only around $60-$70/month per-horse.

[Oldenburg Mom]

Hey Sakura - and eveyone else. Take a look at this: http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10252015

The Economist has one of the best reputations around. This will make your hair stand on end.

Hmmmmm. I also think I'm going to be putting in a vegetable garden this year.

[J Swan]

Hmmmmm. I also think I'm going to be putting in a vegetable garden this year.

Great idea! I skipped mine last year and am sorry I did. This year - I've got big plans for my veggie garden again. I've been cooking compost for months.

Once you grow your own food - you'll never go back to store bought unless you absolutely have to. Tastes much much better. :)

[Daydream Believer]

I remember seeing an ad for full board at $250 per month and :eek::eek: at it cause how can one feed, bed and care for one of my horses for that cost. Maybe I send them a couple of my hard keepers and see how fast the board increases... teeehheeee

You can't make money at that rate. It's impossible. If not in direct costs in overhead. Perhaps some little backyard place that is not carrying liability insurance or has little facility related costs like depreciation and maintenance or is in a part of the nation where hay costs have not skyrocketed...maybe...that might put a few $$ in the pocket of the owner but I doubt very much. One of my clients likes to throw that argument at me..."well I can get stall board for a weanling for $200 from such and such." Well this individual offering this to her is about bankrupt and we all know it. Wonder why? ;)

The other favorite boarder argument is that boarding stables "dont' make money on board but other services"...well guess what...if this stable can't cover boarding costs with boarding fees, I'll shut my doors and you can go find one of those mythical places with low board and the standard of care I provide. Yeh right!

Sorry for the venting but it's a topic dear to my heart right now...UGH!

[Daydream Believer]

Black Oil Sunnies = Black Oil Sunflower seeds. AKA bird seed. :lol:

Black oil sunnies are a very good source of Omega 6 fatty acids and a nice alternative to feeding oils. I love them but not at $25/bag!

[Katy Watts]

Don't expect grain or hay prices to be any lower next year. Contract prices for feed barley and wheat are double what they were 2 years ago. Fertilizer and fuel cost are nearly double from 2 years ago. This will keep hay supply down and hay prices up, as farmers would rather rotate with wheat or barley than grow hay now that there is finally a chance to make a profit rather than just break even as before. There are shortages of wheat and barley seed here. Growing hay is riskier because one untimely rain can ruin the crop. Our ag suppliers are saying that the increased corn acreage is driving prices up. It's all about supply and demand.

[JustJump]

Both Clinton and Obama want to raise our taxes, garnish our bank accounts to force pay health insurance premiums.

Somehow, I don't think they plan on raising MY taxes--they're only planning on doing that to the wealthiest Americans...that might be you, with the rosy picture you're painting, tri.

[Lambie Boat]

Just bought bag of Equilux Senior feed for $13.95 a bag.
same feed was $10.50 2 years ago.

a ton of orchard grass hay delivered and stacked is $275
though I found a local grower that sells ok hay for $110 a ton but we have to go pick it up in our dinky truck, and make several trips. We are saving money until our backs go out and need chiropractic help.

gas today is $3.42 a gallon in Oregon at Costco

the big problem is the wages are not increasing at all.
we are barely scraping by. barely. and friends want to park their horses here on the farm for a little while. I just can't do it :no:

[tri]

Somehow, I don't think they plan on raising MY taxes--they're only planning on doing that to the wealthiest Americans...that might be you, with the rosy picture you're painting, tri.

Ohh yes they are. Both have announced their tax plans and there is an INCREASE in every single tax bracket. Not only that but they want to reinstate the death tax so people who own their own farms can't pass it down to their kids. Where do you think you will board your horses then when all the farms have to be sold to housing developers to pay the taxes??

You sound very much like a socialist with your comment that you don't think your taxes will go up but mine will. I think you are lazy and a coward in that you want the government to take what I've worked hard for and give it to you. The fall of Rome came about when people realized that they could vote themselves other people's property. You are the very core of what is sick in this society.

[RoseBud143]

I also work at a feed store. strategy went up to 14$ a bag ouch!!!:eek: not happy!

but our alfalfa went down to 16!!! lol

[Oldenburg Mom]

Don't expect grain or hay prices to be any lower next year. Contract prices for feed barley and wheat are double what they were 2 years ago. Fertilizer and fuel cost are nearly double from 2 years ago. This will keep hay supply down and hay prices up, as farmers would rather rotate with wheat or barley than grow hay now that there is finally a chance to make a profit rather than just break even as before. There are shortages of wheat and barley seed here. Growing hay is riskier because one untimely rain can ruin the crop. Our ag suppliers are saying that the increased corn acreage is driving prices up. It's all about supply and demand.

What an intelligent post. You must be in the market somewhere, Katy,...commodities?

[J Swan]

She's a scientist.


safergrass.org


Farmers or those close to agriculture in different capacities are usually pretty knowledgeable about the market.

[Katy Watts]

What an intelligent post. You must be in the market somewhere, Katy,...commodities?

I'm a crop consultant. I've been calling around getting prices to budget this years management programs. Farming is VERY expensive these days.
Katy

[TrueColours]

The fellow that is planting our hay fields and pasture this year said that most people are opting NOT to fertilize this year with the huge increase in fertilizer prices. The return they will get on their hay is simply not worth the upfront cost to fertilize, but then their yields wont be as high, so you weigh one against the other and still dont know what to do...

Our problem up here, even though we grow a HUGE amount of hay in Ontario, is that the hay guys are now a whole lot smarter and with Internet connections, know they can sell their hay for FAR more down south and overseas then they ever could up here. So - even though we have hay coming out of our ying yang up here, they are selling it down south where it is fetching $10.00 and $12.00 and $15.00 a bale. So why sell it up here for $4.00 - $4.50 when you can fill up a truck and make a few thousand dollars more per load?

I am VERY VERY glad that I am planting my own hay fields going forward ...

[LuvMyTB]

My feed bill has definitely increased in the last few months. :no: It now costs me about $175/month to feed my one mare--before the 1st of the year, it was closer to $130. Between the TC Complete, beet pulp, and alfalfa/timothy hay cubes, she has become very expensive to feed. Thank god I only have one equine mouth to feed right now.

[JustJump]

You sound very much like a socialist with your comment that you don't think your taxes will go up but mine will. I think you are lazy and a coward in that you want the government to take what I've worked hard for and give it to you. The fall of Rome came about when people realized that they could vote themselves other people's property. You are the very core of what is sick in this society.


:eek:

I promise you I wasn't involved in the fall of Rome...

But if feed prices go up much more, it will not be possible to continue to price my board rates so that I can still retain clients and break even after providing two workers with modest salaries and bargain basement, high deductible health insurance.

[Oldenburg Mom]

Katy,

Can you please join us on this thread? You might be able to help ... http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=3058694&posted=1#post3058694

[Lookout]

I have not read the entire thread. I am going to read it as soon as I post this ...

I work at a feed store one day a week, and I know grain prices are headed waaaay north. Here's a great example: the chart is oat futures from the Chicago Board of Trade, where commodities are traded (remember Trading Places, the movie?)

I was going to look at this this morning anyway as I understand wheat futures are through the roof ...

What I want to know, next, is WHY grain prices are exploding.

Uh, the NYT has actually had a good series of articles on that issue explaining the answer. He he he.

[Tory Relic]

You sound very much like a socialist with your comment that you don't think your taxes will go up but mine will. I think you are lazy and a coward in that you want the government to take what I've worked hard for and give it to you. The fall of Rome came about when people realized that they could vote themselves other people's property. You are the very core of what is sick in this society.

WOW! :eek::eek::eek:

You surely don't sound like what is RIGHT with this country, and there is plenty that is. I'm happy to pay my fair share of taxes, I've gotten plenty of benefit from programs that tax dollars fund. Many people do, they just don't realize it or won't admit it.

I don't think raising taxes is necessarily the answer, and I sure as heck don't think a rebate is necessary, but hey, if they're giving it out, I'll take it.

[Huntertwo]

Somehow, I don't think they plan on raising MY taxes--they're only planning on doing that to the wealthiest Americans...that might be you, with the rosy picture you're painting, tri.

Believe me - With all the *freebies* those two have proposed, we ALL will be paying higher taxes. No such thing as free health care, free this and free that, etc...:no: Now that is a rosy picture..;)

And who is to determine what is wealthy? 60k? 100k? 500k?

[BeastieSlave]

:sigh: I figured this would be the place to come and feel sorry for myself....
I just found an old sales ticket from 5/05. I paid $13.75 for my TC Complete back then, and I thought it was high. Now I pay $16.99 and I'm sure it's still going up!! :eek:

[lukas1987]

Tri said: Not only that but they want to reinstate the death tax so people who own their own farms can't pass it down to their kids. Where do you think you will board your horses then when all the farms have to be sold to housing developers to pay the taxes??What a bunch of hooey!!! FactCheck is your friend.

http://www.factcheck.org/article328.html

And though the ad focuses on family farms and businesses, the truth is that very few actually pay the estate tax. The Tax Policy Center projects that roughly 440 taxable estates were primarily made up of farm and business assets in 2004. Far from imposing tax bills on farms and businesses that "cost them everything," the average estate tax paid by all farm and business estates in 2004 was just under 20 percent of the value of the estate, according to calculations by the Tax Policy Center. The effective rate was far less for smaller estates. Of the 440 taxable family farm and business estates in 2004, two out of five paid an average rate of only 1.6 percent. These were taxable estates valued at less than $2 million.Very large estates valued at over $20 million paid at an average effective rate of just over 22 percent, a hefty tax bite but well short of "everything."But that marginal rate applies only to what is taxed, and currently the first $1.5 million of an estate is exempt. The Tax Policy Center's figures are an average effective rate on the entire estate, including any proceeds of life insurance. The taxable portion is often reduced further through charitable contributions or special provisions that allow most farms to reduce the taxable value of their real property by 40 to 70 percent of market value.

[Jumphigh83]

I would be willing to bet that there will be a LOT of farms giving up the ghost in the very near future. EVERYTHING comes down to diesel....tractors, tankers, railroads, tractor trailers, home heating fuel.....everything will go up...everything..so much for the recreational horse owners disposable income! I watched diesel go from 335 a gallon (here) to 398 (will be over 4 for sure) in a little less than two weeks! it goes up a few cents EVERY TIME I DRIVE PAST KANGAROO!!! I wasn't aware that they fill their tanks that frequently....:rolleyes::rolleyes:;):dead::dead: Yeah...right.....

[Benson]

The price of commodities (corn, wheat, gold, etc) increase as the dollar weakens, making them more valuable as exports. When our dollar is strong, the commodity prices are in the toilet and as consumers of commodities, we are ecstatic. When the dollar is weak, as it is now, the price of commodities increases b/c we are now competitive on the open market.

This is the basis for the high prices of grain in our country.


For those of you toting around a few pieces of nice gold, check it out. $960.00/ounce.

[merrygoround]

As for grain prices--think ethanol.. With the farmers getting high prices for grain from ethanol producers you will pay more for your grain. Add to that the higher cost of fuel to harvest and transport grain. We pay!

As for hay. A lot of fuel goes into cutting , drying, and baling hay. Add transport to that. We pay!

[J Swan]

The new issue of Progressive Farmer had a whole blurb on PDR's as a tool to save farmland. That program is being used here and it has helped a little. Hopefully it will become more popular.

Anyone else suspect tri is really Ann Coulter? :D;)

Just kidding, tri.

[vanheimrhorses]

what scares me since feed is so high why hasnt board changed from $350 and $450 down south how can anyone support a horse on that amount of board , are horses just getting two flakes of hay nowadays or what, horses are suppossed to get free choice hay and will consume almost a bale of hay and they eat around 6-9 pounds of grain if a big working TB or WB jumping so what gives here

[Huntertwo]

The new issue of Progressive Farmer had a whole blurb on PDR's as a tool to save farmland. That program is being used here and it has helped a little. Hopefully it will become more popular.

Anyone else suspect tri is really Ann Coulter? :D;)

Just kidding, tri.

Hey, I love Ann Coulter... Gosh, I think hubby has every book she has ever written...:yes:

[J Swan]

She's the only far right female I could think of.

I don't get out much. :D

[sporthorsefilly]

I have also been told not to expect the price of hay or grain to drop. With the price of Deisel at $4+ per gallon, driving around the hay field at a minimum of 3 times...we are going to pay for it!

Add to this, the futures on Barley and Wheat being high, and the housing industry down, plus lumber being made with less waste (shavings)...we should all get used to mucking straw again. Plus more acres in Wheat and Barley, means less acreage will be in hay.

No a promising future, we horse owners are looking at increases all the way around :-(

But, with Spring coming and all our rain, perhaps we will have grass :) :)

[BKDressage]

Yup, I'd be thrilled with $15/bale! I bought 8 bales of hay yesterday to last until my delivery comes & it was $20.40/bale for grass & $18.75 for alf. Feed has gone way up too as well as shavings. I remember when a few years ago when hay was around $10-12/bale & I thought that was expensive. How I wish those days were back.

OMG!!!! Where do you guys live that you are paying this much for hay????????????????????????????? If it were that much...I would find a new hobby/career!!! I would go bankrupt!! I bought hay the other day and was complaining that my next load will be almost $4 a bale! I feel sorry for you guys! Wow! The world has really taken a turn for the worst! :no:

[Oldenburg Mom]

Well, this is why I'm trying to start a local horse-owner co-op, Spacely. Those are just UGLY prices.

[Janet]

OMG!!!! Where do you guys live that you are paying this much for hay????????????????????????????? If it were that much...I would find a new hobby/career!!! I would go bankrupt!! I bought hay the other day and was complaining that my next load will be almost $4 a bale! I feel sorry for you guys! Wow! The world has really taken a turn for the worst! :no:
Remember that a "bale" is not a standard unit. In some parts of the country, a "bale" is appprox 50 lb. In other parts of the country a "bale" is well over 100 lob.

[sporthorsefilly]

Yes a "bale" of hay could be 40 lbs or 140 lbs or 1400 lbs...depending on the bale of course.

A year ago we could get top quality western alfalfa for $29 for the 140 lb bale. This year I paid $7 for 50 lb bales of local...didn't even question the western variety.

My hay man told me yesterday that his fuel bill for last year was $14,000...so now that Diesel is $4/gallon just think in terms of cutting; raking; baling; hauling...it isn't going to get easier.

The idea of a co-op is great OMOM, if we can get many people together.

Shavings are now nearly $6/bag and loose is nearly impossible to find. While I love straw, I am not fond of mucking straw stalls...but straw may be cheaper since wheat and rye prices are up.

Horses are such fun :-)

[txladybug]

We just bought 500 gallons of Ag (off road dyed) diesel for farm use and it was around 2.70 per gallon. Most farmers do use the dyed diesel and the prices are a tad lower than we see for our trucks at the pumps. But STILL the prices of production are outrageous. Fertilizer prices have gone up as well.