Farmers in a crunch struggle to beef up hay supply
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CHESTER COUNTY, Tenn.,–Farmers across West Tennessee may have to turn to other states for a bailout from possible hay shortage across the region. “We’re stretching the boundaries right now of what we can deal with hay wise,” Valeria Pitoni said. Pitoni owns the Stillwaters Farm in Henderson. Stocked with horses, cows, goats, sheep, donkeys and farm dogs, Pitoni said all of the pasture animals are on a diet of hay and pasture.”It’s provided them very good health, but we’re also very dependent on the hay supply,” she said. A supply she has noticed has taken a toll from winter weather. Pitoni said she would be using about half as much hay if temperatures were warmer. Jake Mallard with the UT AG Extension office in Jackson said farmers across the region are flying through hay stock piles. “You have to actually try and predict what Mother Nature is going to throw at you through the winter,” he said. Mallard said the 2014 hay harvest across the state was not great.”I’m not going to say our quantities were less, they might have been less than ideal in nutrients than what we’re looking for in quality hay,” he said. If farmers continue to crunch through hay supplies, they may need to turn to other regions or states to beef up supplies. Tennessee is not the only state struggling to keep hay,” I’ve heard some reports out of the Midwest that they’re dry. So if they’re dry too, the hay is getting in short supply shipping out to everybody,” Mallard said. Pitoni said she is putting in a prayer request for warmer weather and an early spring. Mallard said he is confident producers will come together to help each other through the possible shortage.
