Due to dry conditions, many horse owners and livestock producers across Kentucky and surrounding areas are already into their winter feeding programs, with some beginning as early as September. Horse owners need to inventory their hay supplies now to ensure they have enough to last through the winter.

Buying additional hay now can save owners a lot of headaches later, said Tom Keene, hay marketing specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

The good news is Kentucky forage producers had prime haymaking weather earlier this year and were able to get good yields due to adequate springtime moisture.

“During a normal season, we would have had a surplus of hay,” Keene said