The latest information from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kentucky Field Office notes, “Pasture conditions continue to decline as drought and cool temperatures are stunting regrowth. Grazing has been limited as the grass is brown and dormant. Many farmers have been feeding hay for a month at this point and concern is growing for winter hay stocks.”

That’s not welcome news as the fall season kicks into high gear, and farmers keep a watchful eye on winter hay supplies. Many livestock producers may face challenges because of early summer drought conditions and the terrible floods that hit the eastern portion of the state last July. And a dry fall that has stunted fall pasture growth, and prompted many to get into their winter hay supplies earlier than expected, isn’t helping the situation.  

From a statewide perspective, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Extension Forage Specialist Jimmy Henning said this year’s hay season was a tale of two extremes.

“We would either have ample or too much rainfall and then we went into a period of, depending on where you were, moderate to pretty severe drought,” he said. “Most people, at least in the hay-making areas, were hurt by the drought in June. But those who have crops like alfalfa or some warm season (forage) that could come back in the late part of the growing season have been able to add to what they were able to get in the first cutting. I would say most people, for a couple of reasons, have good hay supplies on hand.”

The hope for livestock producers is those supplies will hold up. Renee Carrico, Livestock and Environmental Field Specialist with Kentucky Farm Bureau said as she has traveled the state, she’s seeing more and more operations are already having to start feeding hay.

“As hay feeding starts months earlier than usual, we will see hay in shorter supply,” Carrico said. “It is more important now than ever that our producers know the quality of the hay they do have and make sure feed rations are balancing their livestock's supplemental needs."

Many hay producers’ second cuttings were good and maybe unexpected after the dry June conditions. However, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor information, the state is once again in a drought situation with conditions ranging from abnormally dry throughout to moderate and severe drought levels, the most severe being in far West Kentucky.

That has deteriorated pastures that would normally be serving as grazing land before winter sets in. In feeding hay now, those producers who will look to buy from hay growers might want to think ahead as prices are apt to rise, according to Henning.

“The deal now is to get ahead of that if you can; if a supplier is willing to work with you and supply hay now, because it's probably not going to get better in terms of hay price,” he said.

Of course, the hay situation in Southeastern Kentucky is another story altogether because of the severe flooding experience in many areas last July.

Charles May, the Perry County UK extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, said the area of the state impacted by the recent flooding will likely create problems for some producers.  

“The farms that lost hay lost most or all of it, as well as barns, storage buildings, and equipment,” he said. “Fortunately, most, but not all, were small farms and the larger farms that didn’t get flooded, seem to have a sufficient supply of hay. Some, however, depend on purchasing hay and some suppliers are not going to be able to get a second cutting because their fields were flooded.”

Hay donations will help out in these areas and May said those donations are coming in.

“We have had a lot of hay donated, so supplies across the state seem to be good,” he said. “I think that donated hay will make a difference, so I don’t think we are in a critical hay shortage. At least I hope my observations are accurate.”