Many state agriculture departments, state university agriculture departments, state farm bureaus and local forage growing organizations maintain a list of hay auctions and, in times of scarce supply, can help you locate both private and auction sources of hay. If you're buying in small amounts from a broker, you may save some money by going to the hay auction yourself. Of course, you'll need a way to transport the hay to your farm.
If you're currently buying in small amounts, figure out your cost per ton. Most small bales used for horses weigh between 40 and 50 pounds, which is 50 to 40 bales per ton. This price/ton is your starting point for deciding if you should try to go this route.
In addition, you should:
• Calculate your need for the season. For example, 20 pounds per day is an average intake for a 1,000-pound horse. Therefore, one ton will last one horse 100 days.
• Determine your storage space. A ton of hay will fit into a space about 10 feet x 10 feet on ground surface and 3 feet high. This means an empty box stall will hold 2 tons.
• Look at your finances. If money is tight, call a few horse-owning friends to see if they would be willing to split a load of hay with you.
If you're currently buying by the bale from a dealer, you may not have to go any further than your local hay auction for considerable savings. If local prices are too high, gradually widen your search to surrounding counties and nearby states.
Transport is your next hurdle. Some growers will ship up to several hundred miles and there are commercial hay shippers, too, but these can be expensive options. You can haul yourself (e.g. in a horse trailer), check with horse-transportation companies to see if they are going to the area and coming back empty, or consider renting a box van (allow 300 cubic feet per ton). This is a lot of work, but the savings can be worth it.
