03/02/06 Idaho hay market and strong demand

Aaron Romreill of Howe knows a good thing when he sees it. What he sees is a hay crop that's putting some green in his wallet. ROMREILL "I'm pretty optimistic with the hay. That seems to be my biggest money maker, is the hay and that's more shifting more acres toward hay and less acres in grain." Don Hale of Blackfoot says hay producers in Idaho are having a hard time trying to keep up with a growing demand. HALE "What's driving it is the growth in the dairy market. The hay market is not keeping up with the growth. It's reported that over 300 thousand new cows coming into the state." Hay is selling for as much as 130 dollars a ton, 20 dollars higher than last year. Idaho Farm Bureau President Frank Priestly says that's why many Idaho farmers will plant hay this year as a cash crop. PRIESTLEY "It's always been a kind of a crop to fill in in the rotation and alfalfa has now become especially in our area where the dairy and so many more animals to feed it has become such an important crop to us, that it now is not in a rotation but it's a premier crop Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott