2017 is expected to be a banner year for hay growers in our region.
We’re in the middle of the timothy hay harvest and the industry has seen a huge jump in hay prices.
“This is the best quality hay I’ve seen in about 4 or 5 years,” said Tyler Haberman of Number 9 Hay out of Ellensburg. “The cooler spring caused aggressive growth increasing the quality of the hay.”
According to Haberman, timothy hay values per ton are up about $115 dollars over last year.
As for alfalfa, the market remained relatively flat for 2017. “The spring rain put a damper on the alfalfa market this year,” said Haberman. “The alfalfa market is tough because its produced worldwide where timothy is more of a niche market for us.”
Much of timothy hay is harvested in the Columbia Basin. The harvest will end in September.
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