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Hay prices double, triple in parts of Nebraska

The president of the Nebraska Cattlemen says on-going drought and cost of production continue to limit widespread herd expansion.  

Craig Uden says while there have been concerns about price volatility recently, weather remains a key factor. “In my 40 some years of being in this business, I’ve never seen the length of dry periods that we’ve had or the transfer of El Nino to La Nina so bad. We’ll have 1 or 2 good years and then all of a sudden we get into 4 or 5 dry years. That’s really the basis why we haven’t expanded.”

He tells Brownfield hay prices have doubled and tripled in some parts of Nebraska. But, “People have the confidence that they’re going to buy the hay and feed the hay. It’s been a nice profitable year for the industry, but it has had immense challenges to stay in there. Even though prices are higher, the cost of production has skyrocketed.”

Uden says diesel prices also continue to impact producer profitability.