well, i ended up sucking it up and ordering the 240.00 a ton hay. :-( seems that we are exporting hay to all you folks who flooded out, etc. and half the rest of the world. can't blame the hay farmers for wanting the best price, but if sure makes it hard on us non-rich types. glad we ate the cows! anyway, for you west coasters who need hay this year....don't wait! it's only going to get worse.