Although it’s been anything but dry in northeast Colorado in recent weeks, local farmers are still feeling the effects of the ongoing heat and drought in other parts of the state and country.
Lack of moisture in southern Colorado — where 12 counties were declared disaster areas by the federal government last week — and in neighboring states such as Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico — is leaving farmers in those areas struggling to grow feed for their livestock.
That is driving up the demand and price of hay for producers where the crop is still growing — places such as wet Weld County.
This past weekend, alfalfa prices across the board for northeast Colorado were about $50 to $70 higher than they were a year ago. Prices last weekend ranged from about $190 to $210 per ton for premium alfalfa down to about $140 to $150 for fair-quality hay.
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