Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Cary G. Peterson, as well as UDAF division directors, have struck a deal with Union Pacific Railroad to transport, at no cost, Utah hay products to terminals in Eastern states. Commissioner Peterson, along with Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and UDAF Marketing Director, Randy Parker, met with Utah hay and alfalfa producers in Cedar City to announce the plan. Utah hay producers face a weak to steady market for the highest quality alfalfa hay.
Supplies remain high, which is helping to drive down the price for a ton of hay.
Producers are able to sell top dairy hay, even though at lower prices than last year, as long as the hay tests well.