Utah Hay Hotline Available to Help Florida Farmers

Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Cary G. Peterson, is asking Utah hay and alfalfa farmers to market any available alfalfa hay to drought stricken Florida ranchers. The call for help comes in response to Florida Agriculture officials' request for assistance.

The State of Florida has been hit with many recent disasters that have caused numerous problems for its agriculture producers this year. A prolonged drought has greatly reduced the amount of grass available for feed. The drought compounds earlier losses due to El Nino related flooding.

"I would encourage any Utah farmer who has excess hay or alfalfa to help those in need in Florida," said Commissioner Peterson.

HAY HOTLINE AVAILABLE JULY 6

Florida ranchers may locate hay in Utah by accessing the state's Hay Hotline at 1-800-891-0745. The hotline was developed by Utah State University's Cooperative Extension Service, and is available to any farmer or rancher wishing to buy or sell Utah hay. The hotline will be activated July 6. Utah farmers who wish to sell or donate hay are encouraged to call the number so that their names can be available to Florida ranchers in need of hay. USU County Extension Agents will assist in the process. This is the third year in a row the Hay Hotline has been used in Utah.

Utah produces more than two million tons of alfalfa and hay a year, and is ranked number 15 in the country in production. Its alfalfa has a reputation of being high quality because of the state's climate and rich soil. And although Utah's alfalfa crop has experienced weather related troubles this year and last year, there are still large reserves of lesser quality alfalfa and hay available. Wet weather lowered the quality of Utah alfalfa, but not the quantity.

The UDAF is also making available to Florida ranchers the state's Hay Directory. It is a listing of hay and alfalfa producers in the state.

Posted 1 July, 1998