It Just Ain't Right

SP Kennel needs about 50 bales of straw each winter for dog bedding in dog houses and in the dog trucks. September is usually the perfect time to buy it from local farmers. What a surprise we had this week when we went to buy our bales.

The price is $12 per bale! For local straw! We usually pay between $5 and $7.

Alaska's crazy summer weather took a toll on large scale straw production. Extreme heat and no rain was the first blow. Wildland fires burned fields as well as forests. Then, just as we hit harvest time, the rains came in torrents. There is little straw around and Alaskans with livestock and dogs are panicking. And the price skyrocketed.

"In the past 15 years, the most I've ever paid for a straw bale was $11 and it was shipped from Washington state," said Aliy.


Allen unloading precious bales. Though a small item in the SP budget, the price shocked us!

As Allen tucked the solid gold bales in the back of the dog barn for maximum protection, he shook his head. "It just ain't right!" So true.