Hay Shortage
By: Import User
Updated: August 27, 2007
The heat has us all heading indoors, but for those whos livelihood depends on the weather, its been a nightmare.
Now the Tri-State area is experiencing a hay shortage.
Brad and Vickie Pitts own and operate P5 equestrian, home of the latest western reserve world champion and a room full of ribbons and trophies.
A horsemans dream, but the Pitts and others who depend on hay have a problem, the heat.
Hay shortages have been reported in Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Ohio Missouri and Indiana.
Usually its a problem for the winter months, but in drought stricken parts of the south, its creating a big problem now.
Which means going out of state to find hay, and that means more money out of pocket.
The winter or stored supply is even in trouble, because summer grazers like cattle are having to eat it now
Until then hay farmers, and feeders like so many others in the area, are just waiting on the rain.
One temporary solution is to bale leaves and husks from the corn harvest.
It provides the animals with more nutrients than stalks and may be easier to find, but even the corn crops have suffered greatly due to the lack of rain.
