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We put up round bales, and a lot of haylage bales because they can be made in rainy weather, and right now, with new grass coming, on 13 cows and ten calves are going through three-four 8' (abt 1.5 ton. I think) bales a week. Horses don't find round bales palatable, apparently, because even the best old-dairy stuff gets wasted more than eaten so my cousin and my BIL's sister feed bought timothy hay to their horses.
Hay prices are probably going to be worse next winter, unless gas prices go down a whole lot. Most of the price of hay is in fuel, although square bales from local fields also have a labor bump; Western Washington doesn't have the huge automated hay-handling machines people East of the Mountains run and if you're buying from the barn you're paying to have the bales picked up and stacked. Of course there's also this sad fact: the best hay ground in Western Washington now grows retirement communities in Sequim!
Oh not ALL of the Sequim area is taken up by retierment homes! I still know a few old families out there who grow 100's of acres of hay. I love going out and visiting them, talk with the old timers, and help buck hay. I didnt get the chance to go help last season, hopefully this season I can. I trade labor for hay. About a weeks worth of work, and I bring home anywhere from 1-2 tons depending on the years crop.
