Feed prices likely to rise

Horse and Hound Magazine this week report that the wet weather during 2012 is likely to affect the price of horse feed.  The extremely wet weather in the UK caused low yields and poorer quality grain to be harvested.  Farmers are continuing to have a difficult time as saturated and waterlogged fields are making it difficult to drill next years crops which could impact on the harvest in 2013.  To make matters worse, there was a drought in the US which affected their harvest. As a result, good quality grain is in shorter supply and this will undoubtably push prices up.

Hay and haylage prices have not yet been so affected.  Whilst  there is less good quality hay available this winter due to the weather being so wet during the time when hay crops would normally be taken, there is plenty of haylage.  Many farmers made haylage when they were unable to make hay.