MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis increased the demand for high quality export hay this year.

Rice straw and grass feed from Japan for dairy cattle have radiation problems, said Shawn Clausen, a Stockrose Farms partner in Warden and a state Hay Growers Association board member, on Wednesday.

"So there is high demand for high-quality export hay," Clausen said. "Another positive is the weak dollar and strong yen. It makes buying power of U.S. commodities a lot better."

The majority of Stockrose Farms' hay is exported to Japan and Korea, with the largest portion to Japan.

His low end hay is exported to the United Arab Emirates for camels, horses and goats, which is becoming a big market, Clausen said.

"They'll accept rained-on hay," he explained. "They're mostly feeding camels, horses and goats, which don't need high-end protein."

This year, trade activity is showing very good demand, according to the USDA's Columbia Basin weekly hay report.

Prices for all classes of alfalfa for domestic and export are steady, according to the weekly hay report.

Orchard and timothy grass for retail sale are also steady.

Stockrose Farms prices increased from last year by $95 per ton for top quality hay, but its yields are down 10 to 20 percent.

Hay prices are following the commodity trend of wheat, corn and soy beans, he said.

Statewide yields and quality for the season are down, but prices are up, Clausen commented.

He called this year a profitable year in the hay business, compared to 2009 and 2010. Growers were lucky to break even, he said.

Clausen said he just finished his last cutting of hay.

He experienced good luck this year because he missed the rain on the last few cuttings.

"But I'm later than most," he said.

He is only doing three cuttings and is 20 days behind.

"I decided there wasn't enough days to do four cuttings," Clausen said.

Many growers who went with four cuttings were hit with rain and high humidity, which makes for tough conditions to put up dry hay and green hay, he said.

Aaron Golladay, another partner with Stockrose Farms, said traditionally, first and fourth cuttings are dairy cuttings, second and third are for export and rained-on hay is used as feeder hay.

Most Columbia Basin farmers in Washington and Oregon are starting their third cutting of alfalfa hay, with 5 percent complete, according to the USDA's weekly hay report.

Seventy percent of growers are done with their second cutting, as opposed to 76 percent completed in 2010.

Last year 21 percent of Washington state farmers were done with the third cutting.