Hay prices go up and down depending on the old law of Supply and Demand. 

Supply:  Rainfall in California was excellent last year and hay production on both irrigated and dryland hayfields was better than was originally expected.  Barn Stored hay stacks, however, have become depleted through these winter months and our rainfall so far this season is well below normal.  This could mean for shorter than normal supplies this coming Spring.

Demand:  Hay is grown in California to supply dairies, beef cattle, horses and the export market.  Dairy cow numbers still remain low but have been inching up as the dairy business has seen some improvement.  Beef cattle producers are now back on the market, in anticipation of further drought conditions.  Hay exporters that have also entered the California hay market continue to keep upward pressure on hay prices. 

Results: We could possibly see higher hay prices, even as new crop hay comes onto the market this Spring.