ag-formation
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE | Telephone (803) 734-2210 | |||||
D. LESLIE TINDAL, COMMISSIONER | Becky Walton, Director of Public Information | |||||
P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211 | bwalton@scda.state.sc.us | |||||
www.scda.state.sc.us |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2002
Hay and Grain For Sale in the Market Bulletin
COLUMBIA---In order to assist livestock owners in the state, especially cattle and horse owners, with their hay needs, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture publishes a list of "hay and grain for sale" in the Market Bulletin. As of the August 1st publication, 58 hay and grain ads were listed for 21 counties of the state.
South Carolina is a hay-deficit state. Even in a normal year, farmers would need to buy hay from outside the state at some point in time. However, this year livestock owners are already feeding their winter supply. This winter, hay could be in short supply. But, for now, there is still some hay around the state. Les Tindal, Commissioner of Agriculture, said, "We just need to put SC buyer and SC seller together, and thats where the Market Bulletin is a valuable tool."
Since over 50% of the nation is also in a drought situation, asking for outside help with hay is not as feasible as it was in the drought South Carolina experienced 16 years ago. (See http://enso.unl.edu/ndmc/impacts/us/usimpact.htm). States that helped us then, like the Midwestern states particularly Nebraska and the Dakotas, are in desperate shape also.
Les Tindal, Commissioner of Agriculture, said, "The South Carolina market for hay and grain should work as long as it can. Hauling hay into the state means higher prices for farmers due to transportation costs, etc. Since hay and grain is still available here in the state, we just need to put our buyers and sellers together."
To view the most recent hay and grain for sale list, you can log on to the SC Department of Agriculture's website at www.scda.state.sc.us and click on the Hay & Grain for Sale List.
Those who cant find hay in their area should ask their local county agent or look in the Market Bulletin or call the SCDA for assistance in finding those who do have hay for sale in South Carolina. Or, they can log on to http://www.scda.state.sc.us and click on Market Bulletin to look for "hay and grain for sale."
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