July 13, 2018
Submitted By Barbara Bolt
Barbara sent this in from a woman posting on Facebook:


This year, because of high temperatures and little/no rain since early May, Norway is facing the most serious animal feed shortage since 1947...

Farmers are sending entire herds of cattle and sheep to slaughter, horse owners are being told to put their horses down, and prices on hay are rising to insane amounts. They're even cutting this year's grain crops early to dry and use as animal feed. We've usually been able to buy round bales of hay (350-370 kg) for 800NOK (just under $100), but this year they're being sold to the highest bid over 2000NOK (about $250) - which means there's no way we can afford even the small amount we need for our pony and meat rabbits.

We're doing what we can. I'm cutting grass and drying it, cutting down leafy trees to dry, stocking up on sunflower seeds, growing herbs and sunflowers in the garden, and I'm planning on growing grass, sunflowers, and herbs inside all winter - I'm just worried it won't be enough.

Do you have any suggestions for something I may not have thought of? Any ways to make food last longer, without starving the animals? Any advice passed down from your ancestors?

If I have to, I'll get rid of the pony and make the rabbits my priority (I have an interested buyer), and I'll even butcher the two "pet" rabbits to make sure I can feed my breeders, but I'd prefer not to do that....