TRI-STATE (WFIE) -
The drought is sending the price of hay higher and higher.
Sheila and Randy O'Risky are having a hard time finding local farmers who are selling hay these days.
"Their first cut was probably 20-25% from what's normal," Randy said.
Hay farmers can harvest a few cuts of hay each season. Sheila and Randy are safe for now because they bought the first cut, but "May not be a second cutting, there may not be any more hay to be taken up. The one farmer I talked to was talking about maybe bring up a semi-trailer from Ohio, and it was still going to run, $4.50 per bale," Sheila said.
An option that would be too expensive for the O'Riskys.
If local farmers don't get a second crop, Sheila will have to supplement her work horses diet with grains.
"When it comes to our work horses, I am scared, because it's hard to maintain their weight. If they lose weight it's harder to bring their weight back up," Sheila told 14 News.
Grain, hay or supplements, one way or another, Sheila says she will make it work.
"It'd be harder to feed three 2,000 pound horses, and it'd be a lot more work, but I'm going to make sure they eat," Sheila said.
She says they have about 450 bales of hay right now, which should last them about four months.
They're concerned about feeding their horses through the winter if there is no second cutting.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Sheila and Randy O'Risky are having a hard time finding local farmers who are selling hay these days.
