If necessity is the mother of invention, then unconventional market opportunities should be no surprise during drought.As dry conditions worsen and some farmers begin to open insurance claims for withering crops, nervous livestock producers are creating new demand for alternative forages. Feeding straw to supplement reduced hay yields continues to become an increasingly attractive contingency plan among cattle producers, both in Canada and the US. In some cases, demand is so high buyers are offering free trucking in addition to lucrative pricing.Closer to home OMAFRA offers a range of tips for saving, salvaging, and even pricing crops for feed. Harvesting grain corn early naturally fits ensiling. Soybeans can be adapted for green feed, silage, or substitute for alfalfa hay. With a little out-of-the-box thinking and creative market development, grain farmers can generate some financial lemonade this year, no matter how dry the conditions.