Midwest AGNet - Your Source for Everything AGFarmers, ranchers reminded of NDA hay and forage hotline

Farmers, ranchers reminded of NDA hay and forage hotline

LINCOLN, NE(NDA release) – Agriculture Director Greg Ibach is reminding producers of the availability of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Hay and Forage Hotline to either find available hay or post their hay for sale.

 "Because of the harsh winter, farmers in some areas of the state had to begin feeding hay earlier than usual," Ibach said.  "We have received calls from folks who are looking for hay, so we wanted to call attention to our Hotline and encourage its use."

 The Hotline was established in 2002 in response to the need to connect buyers and sellers of hay due to extreme drought conditions in parts of the state.  The free service is available to all buyers and sellers; the database serves as a clearinghouse to connect those with hay to those who need it, and listings are added as they are given to NDA.

 The toll-free Hotline number is 800-422-6692; the local number is 471-4876.  Sellers of available hay and other forage can contact this number and have their name, contact information, and inventory placed on the "Sellers List", which is updated regularly.  NDA will then make the "Sellers List" available to buyers on the web site at www.agr.ne.gov or by mail, if requested. 

 Once potential buyers obtain the listing, they will be responsible for contacting the sellers direct to negotiate any transactions.  NDA does not participate in any transactions nor endorse any hay or forage that is sold.

 According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Nebraska Field Office, hay stocks on December 1, 2009, in Nebraska totaled 4.5 million tons, up 9 percent from 2008.

 "Most of Nebraska had good conditions for hay production in 2009.  It seems to be a matter of connecting those who have the supply with those who need it in order to deal with the cold and snowy conditions this winter has brought us," Ibach said.