Livestock producers prepare for hay shortage
Drought is continuing and frost has ended the growing season in much of Western North Carolina, so hay could be in short supply over the winter for livestock producers. Hay Alert, a special website set up by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, aims to address that issue.
The site brings farmers in need of hay together with those who have it available for sale or forage. The site lists names and contact information for both parties, with buyers and sellers then negotiating the sales themselves once connected. The site offers a search option by county to narrow results.
Jackson County Cooperative Extension is encouraging livestock producers to take other feeding management considerations into account, such as inventorying the quantity and quality of needed hay versus what is available, considering alternative feedstock and thinking about depopulation — if supplies are short, open or old cows might be prioritized for cull with feed resources focused on animals that are better investments.
The Hay Alert site is located at www.ncagr.gov/hayalert/. Producers can also call their local extension agent for information.
