Wheat and too much Water

Hay farmers in Idaho are looking heavenward and must be asking when too much of a good thing…in the form of rain…is enough. They’re keeping their eyes and ears on the forecast and looking for more than a few hours break in between rain storms.  It's been raining in southeastern Idaho almost non stop through much of the spring which makes cutting hay somewhere between difficult and impossible.

Hay farmer Shawn Gardner said his hay is growing fast right now and that presents a problem. As hay gets taller and taller; it starts to fall down on itself.  And it gets heavier and heavier.

Here’s Don Hale, President of Idaho Hay & Forage Association: “The more mature the hay is the less quality you have and there are some people who went out and knocked their hay down for the highest quality and then it’s been rained on for two weeks and that’s no good for anything. It’s bleached completely out and the problem is how do you get rid of it so your other hay can grow back up. For most of us, our hay’s ready to cut but with this rain that we’re having and still in the forecast to have for another week or so, how do you cut? How do you get it down and dry?