Marketplace

Buying your hay

Making hay can get hectic, particularly when things are not going according to plan. We will do our best to keep clients in the loop. In farming we try to manage contingencies, but much is beyond our control. Haymaking machinery is relatively complex, and with complexity comes down time, particularly with machinery that is used irregularly. We will also allow reservations for the second cutting for those who want both first and second cuttings.

The second cutting typically is finer with a higher proportion of alfalfa, and it typically priced a little higher based on feed value.

A third cutting can be similar to the second, or it can be considerably smaller depending on growing conditions.

When making reservations, be sure to specify bale preferences. Round bales are typically cheaper on a per ton basis. We prefer to make square bales provided there is a market, but we will do our best to accommodate client preferences. Threats of rain may shift some hay into round bales as we are set up to put these under cover. We can store round bales for later pick up if desired. We will load out round bales for you. We also have people who can haul hay for those that need transport help.

Haymarket Square

Please complete the order form below to reserve hay for the 2023 crop year.

Forages Available

Currently we have mostly alfalfa/orchard grass mixes, although the orchard grass content varies some by area of the field and by cutting. In 2022 we planted another 8 acres of alfalfa/orchard grass, with a little lighter rate of orchard grass. These fields will come into production for the 2023 crop year. We will also be putting in some straight alfalfa in 2023. We will be experimenting with varieties that recover more quickly from cutting compared to older varieties. We will also be planting six acres of sainfoin. Sainfoin has many properties similar to alfalfa, but with its high tannins content, it acts as a natural wormer. It is also highly favored by deer and many other animals, due I believe, to it’s sweetness. We are not sure how well it will do in the UP, but research suggests it should grow fine if planted on the correct soils. We have not decided yet if we will go with straight sainfoin, or if we will do a mix. Leaning toward a mix since nature seldom does monocrops. Mixes dry faster, and there are probably fewer weed issues. We will also be bringing additional land into production in 2024. As the alfalfa fields drop yields as they get older in years to come, we are thinking about overseeding them with sainfoin for an alfalfa/sainfoin mix, provided customer interest is there for this mix. This is appealing since we can overseed without disturbing our mycorrhizae mycellium.

Typical Forage Analysis

Each cutting will be analyzed and data will be provided.

Pricing

Pricing is always based on feed value, the Midwest hay market, and on the supply/demand balance. If you need quality hay, you are encouraged to contact us to reserve what you will need, as soon as you can project your needs. We collect plant material from many areas of the field as we mow, and send this into Dairyland labs for analysis. Results are typically back by the time the hay is baled. We use the RFQ from that sample to establish a fair price which we will list on the site under the “News Tab”. Premium hay has historically been priced based on RFQ in the dairy market. Second and third cuttings typically have higher RFQ values and this ratio is used in setting the price on the later cuttings. These cuttings are typically finer with less stem and a greater proportion of leaves. We will fill orders in the order received with priority given to established customers. There is no cost to sign up, but clients will be expected to show up when the hay is baled, or it will be sold to the next client on the list. Large orders will require multiple loads. Anyone proving to be unreliable will find their order at the bottom of the list. Unfortunately, we do not know how much hay we are going to get for a particular cutting until it is baled. We will list quantities baled on the site and update regularly as bailing proceeds. We will advise clients what sequence of bales is reserved for them, so watching bale count updates on the “News” tab will provide an early indication that your hay is ready. We will also call if requested with updates. Bailing days get pretty hectic, so please be patient if we do not always answer the phone. When the baler won’t tie right, our focus will be on solving that problem!

Hay Delivery

We understand that clients may not always have the time, equipment, or manpower to pick up hay and place it in your barn. We have people with trailer rigs that might be helpful. Please let us know if you will be needing help, and we will see if we can connect you to someone who can help.

Hay Storage

Quality hay needs to be protected from the elements in order to retain it’s nutritional value. We can wrap round bales with white plastic wrap so they can be stored outside with minimal risk of losses. There is extra handling and added cost for this.

We have barns that can be used for storing hay, but it will be the client’s responsibility to actually move the hay from the field to the barn, since we do not have manpower for this task. Square bales can be stored in the old dairy barn which has good accessibility. Round bales can be stored in the cattle shed for later pickup. They will store well in these locations, and there will be no additional charge for this. Clients will need to mark their bales with plastic tags or colored flags with their names on the flags. The hay can be picked up later in the season or in the winter as needed. Please advise when you would like to pick up so we can ensure that there is good access by plowing any snow. We will load out round bales. Square bales will be up to you.