For those looking for hay to mulch, I give you this "tip" to get it at a low price, and even for free!
I own horses and like any horse owner I buy my hay from a farmer.
The new hay (the one that has just grown) is cut in fine weather, in May or June for sunny areas and the following weeks for others, and there are often several hay cuts from spring to fall.
This means that the producer-sellers must quickly sell the hay from the past year, which has lost a large part of its nutritional qualities and its appetite for animals, to store the beautiful freshly cut and dried hay: it is therefore necessary to quickly empty the old hay stocks remaining, and some do not hesitate to throw it or burn it!
Likewise, it is important to clean the storage sheds which are generally well soiled with hay on the ground from boots handled with machines, and others which break and fall to the ground. Certainly, some give this old hay to animals (equines, cattle, goats, etc.) but it is not recommended because it is very loaded with dust, humidity and fungi which can cause serious respiratory diseases: allergies, emphysema, asthma, respiratory infections or brain disorders caused by fungi or bacteria).
In short, take a tour of the surrounding hay merchants, farms and other places where herbivores are present and offer to come and clean the hay shed free of charge by collecting what is on the ground and the old unsaleable hay bales. If the owner of the premises is open and "generous", he will quickly understand his interest (labor + cleaning time + hygiene assured for his new hay). On the other hand, you will have to plan to come with a good trailer because depending on the size of the hangar there will be large volumes of old hay to be removed, at worst fill large sacks!
That was the tip of the day!