The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-07-15
Think HAY PRICES
DUE FOR A TUMBLE
ENTIRE NORTHWEST HAS THE
LARGEST CROP OF HAY IN
IT'S HISTORY THIS YEAR

Not only is the grain crop of the
Pacific northwest expected to set
new record in volume this year, but
the hay crop is said to be the best
the northwest has ever produced.
There have been years when some
sections have had better crops of hay
than this year but it is claimed there
has never been season when the en-
tire northwest has as good hay or
as many acres as this year.
Alfalfa leads in yield and acreage
in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
During the past few years the acre
age of alfalfa in these states has in
creased from 25 to rs per cent, and
this season the yield everywhere is
better than it has ever been. South
ern Idaho is said to have a record
crop of the first cutting with bright
prospects of two more cuttings. The
irrigated sections of southern Idaho
are expected to have hundreds of
thousands of tons of hay for export
this year.
Montana, which imported tens Of
thousands of tons of hay last year
and sent thousands of head of cattle
to Texas and other states to be win
tered because of lack of hay, has the
biggest hay crop in the history of
the state. 1t is said the Big Hole
basin alone will produce more hay
this year than the entire state pro-
duced last year. Montana will have
hay to sell this year, is the announce
ment coming from that state which
suffered three crop failures in three
years.
The Yakima valley, in Washington,
which produces an enormous amount
of hay for export every year, will
have the largest acreage and the
heaviest yield in many years this
season. The first crop is cut and
the second crop almost ready. The
country and several
other sections of Washington which
produce large quantities of hay, also
report an unusually heavy yield this
season.
Oregon, too, has the largest hay
crop the state has ever produced. In
central Oregon, in the Deschutes
country, the Bend district, Wallowa
county, Union county and Baker
county, the hay crop is immense;
Last year Wallowa county imported
hay for the first time in it's history.
This year the county will have much
3
% contract hay at present prices, ex-
oecting it to be much lower later in
he season, when people learn how
much hay there is in the country this
year.
1t is believed there will be little
grain cut for hay this year. The
ligh price of wheat will preclude the
cutting of wheat for hay, except in
| few cases where the heads are
light or some other cause would
make the cutting of it for threshing
Some oats will be cut
or hay and some beardless barley,
'ut the acreage of these is light.
Timothy hay is better than ever
'efore throughout the entire north
vest and this hay will largely take
he place Of grain hay for horses, al
hough many farmers are feeding
Italia to horses and say it makes
.ood horse feed. {
Dealers predict a tumble in hay t
rices when the crop is all harvested
nd the early demand is filled just !
ow there is strong demand from t
II sources as the country has been
ntirely out of hay, and every one
) anxious to buy some hay for i'm
lediate use, but when the first de-
land has been filled it is expected
here will be cessation of buying
nd prices will decline. Experienced r
len say we will not see $40 or $50 c
ay again in many years. t