Tips for Profitable Cash Hay Operations

Cash hay sales can be an excellent additional income source for many Kentucky farmers.  Especially when many of us need the hay, but can’t justify purchasing all the equipment to produce our own.  UK Extension Forage Specialist Dr. Garry Lacefield offers these management tips to help you generate the most profit from your hay enterprise.

1.         Do extensive research on the market and your potential customers. Save some bales to show prospective customers or brokers the kind of product you can offer.

2.         Realistically assess your ability to procure labor on a timely basis. Be sure you have labor lined up before committing to supply large quantities of hay.

3.         Base your estimated income on average, not high, market prices for hay. If you can succeed on average prices, you will be in great shape in years when prices are even better. Make a short list of equipment necessary to expand your production capacity and quickly get hay up. Be tight-fisted, but realistic, about the budget.

4.         Target the cleanest, densest and most weed-free fields as those most likely to be good enough for cash hay.

5.         Develop a plan to harvest the heaviest production first and in a timely fashion. This first harvest can be nearly 50 percent of your annual yield on good stands in good years.

6.         Work on storage to provide the capacity and access to the hay that you need.

7.         Consider establishing any new alfalfa fields as pure alfalfa and put grass in later. This will help you manage weeds that are hard or impossible to control in grass.

8.         Develop a plan to market hay that is off quality. Opportunities include your own cattle, other beef herds or even as landscape mulch.

9.         Learn all you can about cash hay enterprises from the experts by talking to experienced growers and attending meetings of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and other educational organizations and groups.

10.       Remember the hay business is a service operation. Your success may depend as much on what you are willing to do for the customer as what you can supply.

11.       Have your hay tested and know its quality.

            For more information on forage production or hay quality testing, contact the McLean Cooperative Extension Service at 273-3690.