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Market specialist: no burdensome hay supplies, but demand lags

A marketing specialist says hay inventories are adequate.

Dale Leslein is based in northeast Iowa and covers Minnesota and Wisconsin as well.

“There’s a shortage of higher-end hay, but the market is not as strong as it has been since the dairy farmers changed how they get paid several years ago. The demand for top-end dairy hay is not as strong as it’s been in years past, but I wouldn’t call supplies burdensome by any means.”

He tells Brownfield hay supplies are slightly below a year ago.

“But there’s just a decline in livestock numbers, which is kind of keeping a cap on prices right now.”

Leslein says poor weather in December slowed hay auction activity, but runs are picking up this month.