A year ago the hay market was caught in a downslide that began in 2016. Analysts said the only thing that would change it was a hay shortage. That is indeed what happened across Iowa. After a dry growing season in 2017 and dwindling supplies through the fall and into the winter and spring of 2018, the hay market is at record high levels. One of the latest USDA reports says that hay stocks in Iowa are down 43 percent down from a year ago, nationwide they are down 3 percent.

Paul McGill at the Rock Valley Hay Auction...