The Missouri Extension office as well as the Department of Agriculture is helping livestock producers find hay.

Sources say their website are seeing increased usage from buyers and sellers in this post drought season.

Ryan Milhollin works with MU’s Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board also known as AgEBB, he says websites list sellers by region and forage type as well as bale type, number and weight, The details may include whether the hay has been analyzed and percent total of digestible nutrients.

Buyers also can see personalized notes from sellers like “First Cutting” or “Don’t Call before 6 P.M.”

Milhollin says livestock producers can find by product feed types such as soy hulls, corn gluten feed and other byproducts. Milhollin notes to use caution when buying hay from new sources and to always ask how the hay has been stored and for how long.

Hay containing Sudan grass, millet or Johnson grass can have nitrate toxins when harvested during dry conditions.

The USDA recommends the best management practices for storing hay with tips to check for any infestation of fire ants as well.

To learn more about these practices please visit the USDA website here:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth

The University of Missouri Extension website link:

https://apps.mda.mo.gov/HayDirectory

The Missouri Department of Agriculture here:

https://apps.mda.mo.gov/HayDirectory