Last year, many farms could only make one cut of a thin, drought-stricken sward. It didn’t grow back. To compound the issue, many began using hay as feed in summer. Olly Morris, a hay merchant in nearby Thatcham, warned early that yields were down 60%. Prices for small bales, usually £4-£5, have doubled to £8-£10, reflecting the haulage costs from further afield.