No not that kid. Alfalfa is the number three value crop behind corn and soybean. Why is alfalfa so important you might ask. Alfalfa is a high nutritional forage. Alfalfa is a main source of feed for milk cows. Other importance feed source for horses, cattle, goats, and sheep.
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| Swather cutting alfalfa field |
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| Holstein Cow (Dairy Cow) |
Well we have seen over 40% increase of Alfalfa prices per ton this past year. Due to droughts and demand from over seas. Milk is in demand in countries like China and Japan, and alfalfa is the most efficient feed for dairy cows. The local horse keepers are seeing premium pricing for alfalfa bales, Alfalfa bales have gone up from $9 to $16. Local dairy farmers are substituting what they can to bring down their feed cost.
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| Alfalfa Bales |
For myself, I have been feeding mostly 4-way oat mix hay. I had purchase about 30 bales for about $12 a bale over the summer. The same stuff is currently being sold for $16 per bale. Every horse keeper has his/her own feed management program.
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