The Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction (Metcalfe, Barren, and Monroe County Cooperative Extension Services) has become an annual event that both buyers and sellers of hay and straw have come to depend on. Less than desirable weather conditions for the past two years has brought about a forage supply shortage for many farmers. The auction system of selling hay allows the supply and demand to accurately drive the market. In fact, the Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction allows all producers to get an idea of the value of their forage.   

 In the fourth year of the sale on 1-25-2020, twenty-five different consigners (increase of 52% over 2019) offered over 1,300 (increase of 38% over 2019) rolls of dry grass or legume hay.  Nearly 80 large square bales were placed in the auction, as well as over 3,300 small square bales. Rolled baleage, rolled corn stalks, rolled straw, and large squares of straw rounded out the forage that was available.

Each lot was weighed, and the hay was tested on site by the KY Department of Agriculture. An average weight and a nutritional report was attached to each lot so that buyers could evaluate both quantity and quality before bidding.

The real question everyone seems to be asking is, “what did hay bring?”   An analysis of the sales data shows that dry grass hay, stored inside, averaged 862 pounds per roll with an average price of $51.00 per roll. Small square bales sold for an average of $4.75 per bale. Thirty-seven different buyers purchased just shy of $60,000 of forages (increase of 72% over 2019) through the auction.  

One interesting fact presented itself after looking at the sales data. The average roll of grass hay stored inside weighed 862 pounds, and the average weight of hay stored outside was 1,190 pounds.  One can assume that much of the 328 pound difference is simply water.   However the hay stored inside had no spoilage around the roll, whereas outside stored hay always has some spoilage.   So even though a roll stored outside weighs more, when you subtract the water and spoilage you get significantly less hay that livestock can utilize. Another observation is that most farmers tend to overestimate the weight of their bales.

                Livestock and forage producers in South Central Kentucky look forward to last Saturday in January when hay and straw go on the auction block at the Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction.  Numerous buyers and sellers have made contacts and have begun business relationships.