Cold Wet Spring Having An Impact On Washington Hay Growers

The surprise snow storms in mid-April and subsequent below average temperatures have pushed back many calendars in the farming community. One of those commodities seeing an impact is hay. Andrew Eddie with the Washington State Hay Growers association said the cold, wet weather pushed the season back roughly two weeks behind schedule.

“Thing are going a little slow, there haven’t been too many growing degree days to really get anything to pop-up and start growing pretty quick, so we’re just trying to manage that and work into our schedule about when we need to start to be done by the time fall rolls around.”

While growers would like to see warmer temperatures soon, long-term weather forecasts aren’t calling for summer-like heat in the foreseeable future. Can growers make up for that time lost in May and early June?

Eddie said many growers do have a game plan.

“But I think you’ll see some growers going for more tonnage than rather than quality on their hay, especially with the way prices are for now.  And I think it will end up working out alright but it’s all going to be dependent on Mother Nature and what she has in store for us.”

Eddie noted growers could benefit if the late summer and early fall remains warm and dry, as it has over the past couple of years. He noted that may allow some growers to make up the first cutting that was missed or short of expectations when the season started.

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