But this past weekend’s historic flooding event – which targeted South Carolina with a vengeance – ruined tens of thousands of hay bales, thus creating the likelihood of shortfalls that could eventually put animals at risk and producers in dire straits.

With fall fully entrenched and winter on the way, livestock producers will be depending more and more on stores of hay to keep their animals healthy and well fed until spring.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension is compiling a “2015 Flood Relief Hay List” that will provide contact information on anyone who has undamaged hay for sale. The results of the list will be posted online at Livestock and Forages Extension and Outreach Programs.

“We’re trying to get ahead of it,” Clemson Extension beef specialist Matt Burns said. “Most of the hay in the Pee Dee region and lower portions of the state was sitting under water and will be ruined by mold. This is not an immediate problem, but rather a problem of how producers will get through the winter months. So we’re trying to get ahead of it now and get a list of people who have hay for sale.”

Livestock producers will be depending more and more on stores of hay to keep their animals healthy and well fed until spring.
Image Credit: Clemson University

Burns said some farmers who will need hay might be surprised by how easily they’ll be able to purchase it. There is still quality hay in the Upstate and in other counties in South Carolina, as well as neighboring Georgia and North Carolina.

“They might be able to buy it 30 miles down the road and not even know it, if it weren’t for this list,” Burns said. “So this will be critical in terms of getting the word out.”