Prices can vary depending on many variables. But, like every other horse owner, I do not want to pay more than I have to for good quality hay ( for a definition: http://www.allabouthorses.com/how-to-determine-quality-hay/

 

 

Here are a few tips that can help reduce your costs:

1) Shop the Growers. Hay growers do not generally charge sales tax.  Local sales taxes are 7-10 % that can add up to quite a tidy sum over time and depending on the number of horses you feed.  And, you are more likely to get higher quality, fresh hay. Examples include G Farms and The Hay Barn. See our listing.

2) Our Hay Report is not just information, it’s a tool to be used to lower the cost of feeding horses for owners throughout the state. Print the list and take it to your local feed store  and ask  why they are not more competitive. If you can save a lot by driving to a competitor, do not hesitate to tell them you will take your business elsewhere if they won’t lower the price.

3) Buy from sellers that offer special deals. Bales in Buckeye offers a cash discount and no tax. Safford Feed offers $1 off  on 10 bales or more. Beware of those whose prices are higher, you pay the tax but you get 50 cents off on Tuesdays and Thursdays and still pay too much for your hay.

4) Drive a lot, save a lot?   June 16: actual costs used in this example: Joan horseowner lives in Payson.  She has to pay $18.50 for Alfalfa plus tax at the local feed store. If she is willing to drive her pickup to Gilbert which is 90 miles away she can buy Alfalfa for $13.50 and pay no tax.  But, she thinks about it and doesn’t really want to drive that far because of the time and gas cost involved. Let’s look at what she would save if anything. The truck is a short bed that holds 16 bales. If she buys one truckload in Payson, she will pay $18.50 x 16 + 7% sales tax for a total of  $316.72. If she buys it in Gilbert she pays $216.00. The extra $100 she saves will buy 7 1/2 bales of hay or 28 gallons of gas at 3.60 per gallon.

5) Get a group together who live in close proximity to you. Share the cost of gas and travel. Use the largest trailer in the group and buy in as much volume as the trailer will hold. Each member shares the cost and equal share of the hay. See the math above. Here is another example. On June 26, Mikes in North Phoenix is charging $16.90 + tax for Alfalfa. The Haybarn in Gilbert is $13.00 No tax (He’s a grower & does not have to charge tax.) At a tax rate of 8% the total saving is $ 5.25 per bale. A 25 bale purchase saves $131.30. Plus it helps drive down the cost of hay.

Is it worth the time and effort. You bet it is. Especially if the local store is forced to reduce prices because it’s losing customers.

We can impact the cost we pay for hay!!!