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Iowa hay auction will help determine current value

A special summer hay auction this Monday, July 9th in Creston, Iowa should provide a better idea of what hay is currently worth.

Jake Rice of Rice Auction Company, based in Clearfield, Iowa, helps manage South Central Iowa Hay Sales.

“We typically don’t have a summer hay auction, but our phone is just constantly ringing,” Rice says. “So, through price discovery—the auction method—we’re going to go ahead and see what that market is.”

Rice says while it’s been a good year for hay production in much of Iowa, drought continues to plague many areas of neighboring Missouri.

“We run some cows down in the Guilford, Missouri area and in the Maryville, Missouri area. Those rains down there have been extremely spotty,” he says. “We’re kind of in the position right now—not only us, but others—that we’re looking at probably marketing some cows. We just don’t have the feed carryover, we don’t have the feed coming on, and our pastures are virtually gone.”

Rice says big round bales consistently brought from 100 to 150 dollars throughout the winter months, with two-year old hay running from 75 to 85 dollars. He says Monday’s auction should give them a better feeling for hay’s current value.

Link to South Central Iowa Hay Sales’ Facebook page

AUDIO: Jake Rice