Selling Hay in a Drought Year

We are actually amazed that we were able to harvest enough hay to feed our animals, with enough left over to sell. The drought summer feels like a long-ago bad dream. I would have to dig for data, but I think it was somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks with only negligible rainfall.

Of course that is very good for those who have hay to sell. And it is not so good for those who need to buy. At times like this, we continue to sell at a fair price (somewhere between giving it away and gouging people). We know that what goes around comes around. And that we will, some time in the future, benefit from someone who is willing to sell to us at a fair price.

This hay is going to a dairy farm south of us. Dairy farmers are some of the hardest working people I know, and they hardly ever turn a decent profit. Public service announcement to anyone reading who may be against large scale farming: the small guys only sell out because the relentless work isn't worth the pittance earned. Or not earned, as is sometimes the case--the milk check doesn't even cover the feed and electricity bills.

At any rate, the golden rule applies here, too. Treat others as you'd like to be treated. Works in all walks of life.