Hauling Hay From Saskatchewan into States

Stand in line, EVERYONE is hauling hay from Saskatchewan south. It's no great deal.

You'll need a US Customs invoice, a Customs broker, an ACE manifest and ACE manifest provider.

 

Don't do it in a reefer unless you actually have a 110" inside height. Your roof chute will be damaged. I did one load and that will be the last load of hay for me.

 

I haven't hauled hay south in 10 years BUT there used to be a deal with the US Dept of Ag and inspections of the hay. If the hay wasn't inspected @ the border (or your paper work rubber stamped) then when you unloaded the hay it had to be stored/kept seperate for up to a week so that the Dept of Ag could come and look @ it if they wanted to>Not sure if that policy still exists.

 

Yes that rule is still in in effect. It's called a "hold intact notice" and we get ~1 per week. The FDA needs to be notified of every load of hay crossing into the US. The shipper has an account within the FDA's internet web portal and they must log into this website and create a "FDA prior notice". When the truck gets to the US port of entry, the FDA has the right to inspect the hay. If for some reason, they don't inspect the hay at the border (usually it's because they're closed), the customs broker will issue the hold in tact letter that states the shipment can be delivered but must remain "intact" until the FDA arrives at the consignee to inspect it. Usually, the hold intact letter is canceled when the FDA guys arrive at work the following day. Just so you know, of the 1500 or so loads that we have shipped since the FDA started requiring the prior notices, they have never went to the consignee to inspect.

hope that helps.

 

You're welcome.

By the way, someone mentioned that you could cross on an "informal entry". We used to cross that way years ago, but US customs for some reason would not allow us to cross that way any longer and made us get set up with a customs broker. They gave us 1 day notice, so basically what I am saying is this; you take your chances if you try to cross on an informal entry. Also, it's the customs broker that issues the hold intact letter and since there is no customs broker with an informal entry, you will probably not be allowed to clear customs on an informal entry until the FDA guys take a look at your hay. So if you plan to cross on an informal entry, you should make sure you arrive at the border when the FDA is open....8:00 - 4:00 M-F where I cross. Otherwise, you could find yourself sitting all weekend.