Excessive rain takes toll on Maine’s farmers

Maine’s seemingly unending rain in June did more than put a damper on tourism and construction work: It hit the wallets of farmers and livestock raisers who are paying more for hay.

The month ending Friday has been the third-wettest June on record in Maine, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Capriola. A total of 9.18 inches of rain fell in Portland as of Wednesday, less than 2 inches from the record set in 1917, he said.

It was also nearly three times the average rainfall for June.

Because of all the rain, hay growers have been unable to harvest their fields. Dry hay, which is used to feed livestock, horses and other large animals, requires at least two to three days of continuous sunshine to be harvested, said Richard Kersbergen, extension professor at the University of Maine.

Standish hay farmer Curtis Thurston lacks the expensive farming equipment needed to harvest his overgrown and soggy hay fields.

“I’ve gotten about 10 phone calls today from people wanting to buy hay,” he said. “I’ve got nothing I can spare.”

Adding to his headaches is that the hay’s been rendered to “soggy clumps” as a result of the wind and the rain, Thurston said. “It would just get stuck in my mower if I tried to move through it.”

Mike Graffam, owner of Norton Farm in Falmouth, buys grain for the 35 horses he keeps at the farm, but the weather has made it nearly impossible for him to harvest the hay he grows on his property.

“I’ve already needed to buy hay. I’ve bought some from a neighbor, but he’s sold me about all he’s willing to sell,” Graffam said.

Farmers in past seasons have imported hay from other states and Canada when similar weather conditions hit.

Once Maine farmers begin harvesting, hay will be abundant, but it will be of poor quality, Kersbergen said. The longer the hay stays on the field, the more nutrients it loses, he said. People may have to purchase grain to compensate.

Hay grown locally is already selling at between $4 and $5 a bale, up $2 from the usual cost of hay, farmers said.