Shortage of hay leaves farmers to make some changes
SUSSEX- With the hot weather and lack of rain this summer, many farmers in the Maritimes struggled for hay.
Matt and Brenda Hornbrook, a couple from Sussex, located in the southern part of New Brunswick, were prepared this summer.
“We were very fortunate this year with our hay crop,” said Brenda. “Last year we’ve been following the trends and the hay shortage has been significant and the cost of hay, so we had sold our small beef herd last year and it really helped out with this year.”
The farm has been milking Ayrshire calves and raising horses since 1867. Matt is the 6th generation and hopes his kids will someday take over the farm and carry on the tradition.
Many pieces of farm equipment have been passed down from each generation. They have a couple of tractors that are attached to equipment such as a discbine to mow the hay, a small square baler to bale it and a harvester to chop the corn.
The Hornbrooks’ had their first cut of hay a week earlier than usual. “The weather was good, so we wanted to take advantage of that,” said Matt. The first cut was light, but with some rain that came in July, the second cut was better.
Even though the Hornbrooks’ were prepared, the summer of 2020 was the driest summer that they can recall. Because of this, they had to buy hay because they are not growing as much as they usually do.
If every summer is this dry, it is their belief they will have to keep downsizing their herd which can affect their income.
One of the impacts that farmers have to think about is climate change.
Climate change has an impact on the weather which can lead to a lack of rain and it can be harmful to farmers and their crops.
Small changes like using less plastic can help.
“It would be nice to get away from using plastic, said Matt. “If we had upright silos, we could do that, but it takes money.”
They use plastic to wrap the hay bales and plastic ag bags to store corn.
Corn is used for silage which is a type of feed for their cows.
Matt works on the farm with his two nephews, his two sons and his wife Brenda. Brenda came with no experience with farm work, she is an indoor girl who loves to bake, however, Matt changed that.
“Matt likes to get everybody out in the barn working so the kids and I do a lot of the manual labour with him.”
The family has over 100 animals on the farm to feed hay.
They grow their corn and hay on over 800 acres of land, as well as milk cows, train horses and breed horses.
The summer is the busiest time for the Hornbrooks’, not only are they working on the farm, they are travelling to horse shows around the Maritimes. They started showing 21 years ago with their two horses and borrowed harness and wagon.
“Matt starts very early getting horses shod up, coats shiny and healthy, training them and plated. said Brenda, “and I get to take part in getting the trailers and costumes ready and baking.”
They attend more than five shows every summer with their harness and wagon and even show an eight-horse hitch.
If the Hornbrooks’ continue to follow the trends of the weather, they trust that they will be prepared to have enough hay for the farm in the summer, even if that means downsizing in the herd.
