24 Bulletin 85 



averaging about $18 in the middle of the season and closing in Decem- 

 ber at approximately $30 for good baled hay delivered to the loading 

 platforms. 



Practically all the hay sold from the farm is purchased by local 

 buyers who in turn re-sell to their customers in other parts of the 

 Southwest. About five local firms ship approximately four-fifths of 

 all hay which goes out of the Valley. Only in exceptional cases is 

 there direct sale from producer to consumer. With the local market 

 largely controlled by a very few firms, the hay producers of the Valley 

 have in many cases doubted whether or not a real competitive market 

 existed. On several occasions large hay producers in the Valley have 

 attempted to negotiate directly with buyers in nearby mining towns 

 for direct sale. Usually they have found themselves unable to make 

 such sale because they were unable to guarantee the grade of hay 

 which would be delivered. The buyer in practically all cases preferred 

 to deal with local dealers with whom he had established business rela- 

 tions and upon whose representations he could rely. The farmer has 

 had no means of assuring buyers that he could deliver hay which was 

 up to specifications. The complete lack of any system of local inspec- 

 tion has therefore entirely precluded the possibility of direct selling. 

 A system of local hay inspection, whereby the producer could utilize 

 the services of a competent hay inspector at a nominal fee would 

 enable the farmer to place his hay on the market on equal terms with 

 the large hay shipper and thus save for himself the speculative profits 

 which are absorbed by local hay handlers. 



Very few farms have hay sheds which are sufficiently large to 

 care for any considerable quantities of baled hay. It usually is neces- 

 sary for the farmer either to stack his hay in the field or to bale it 

 and sell at once. Farm storage for baled hay is necessary if producers 

 are to get the benefit of seasonal price changes in the hay market. 



Very small quantities of alfalfa seed are produced in the main 

 body of irrigated land in the \^alley. Most of the alfalfa seed whicb 

 is produced in this territory comes from the Buckeye A^alley. Even 

 in this district alfalfa seed production is usually incidental to hay pro- 

 duction. If seasonal and price conditions are satisfactory, growers in 

 this district allow one cutting of alfalfa to go to seed, harvest the crop 

 and then again resume hay production. As might be expected, the 

 annual production of seed varies greatly. During some seasons it is 

 difficult to secure a good crop of alfalfa seed, while in other seasons 

 the alfalfa seed crop is the most profitable one of the season. The 



