Hay is costly in Central Texas
7/14/2022 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
Bandera County, TX
Bastrop County, TX
Bell County, TX
Bexar County, TX
Blanco County, TX
Bosque County, TX
Brazos County, TX
Burleson County, TX
Burnet County, TX
Caldwell County, TX
Comal County, TX
Comanche County, TX
Coryell County, TX
Falls County, TX
Fayette County, TX
Freestone County, TX
Gillespie County, TX
Gonzales County, TX
Grimes County, TX
Guadalupe County, TX
Hamilton County, TX
Hays County, TX
Hill County, TX
Kendall County, TX
Kerr County, TX
Kimble County, TX
Lampasas County, TX
Lee County, TX
Leon County, TX
Limestone County, TX
Llano County, TX
Madison County, TX
Mason County, TX
McLennan County, TX
Lorena, TX
Milam County, TX
Mills County, TX
Robertson County, TX
San Saba County, TX
Travis County, TX
Washington County, TX
Williamson County, TX
Wilson County, TX
Start Date: 4/22/2022
- End Date: 7/13/2022
Pasture conditions were poor in the Lorena area, so hay was not growing, cattle prices were down, and hay prices were up. With just 7.5 inches of rain on a farm so far this year, the grass was not even tall enough to bale, so the rancher has had to purchase hay. He has also sold about two-thirds of his herd, which usually ranges from 15 to 20 cattle, so he did not have to feed them expensive hay through the winter.
Hay prices have increased up to 60% since late April. Drought and the high cost of diesel have contributed to the uptick in hay prices. The farmer would typically be making a second hay cutting in late July, but drought has prevented the hay growth.
KWTX-TV 10 News Waco (Texas), July 13, 2022
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