The Importance of Commercial Hay Farming

Hay is a product the general public spends little or no time thinking about. The majority of the population has little contact, or so they believe, except for maybe a fall hay ride or an occasional drive by a field containing hay bales. Farmers and hay producers know the truth, however. From meat to dairy products, our food supply depends greatly on the production of hay.

Beef and Dairy Production

The main food of cattle is hay, quite often alfalfa hay. The better the quality of the food that goes into feeding growing cows, the better the meat and the richer the milk becomes. Cheese needs rich, milk – and a great deal of it – to be produced. In essence, if farmers do not have quality food for their animals, the food supply suffers. Why actually use quality growing soil for the production of hay? Can”t the cows simply be left out in a field to graze on grass? Unfortunately, that is no longer possible in today”s world.

Less Space Means Less Food

With the rise of population, communities are now taking the place of much of the farmland cattle farmers once used as feeding grounds for their animals. Cattle can only feed in a certain area for a limited amount of time, then the grass becomes too short for them to access. Traditionally, farmers had several fields available for use. They would use one for things like their own garden products and at least one for growing hay to store for winter feeding of their cows. The cows were then allowed to roam in two or three areas, alternately, giving the grass time to grow in one while they ate in the other.

Today, farms are becoming smaller. The farmers have had to sell off land in order to survive and hold onto their cattle. This limits the amount of hay they have available for the winter months, when snow prevents the cattle from eating fresh grass. Without a source of good-quality hay, the cattle will starve, and along with them the farmers and families that depend on the sale of beef and dairy products for their survival.

Commercial Hay Farming

By commercializing hay farming, land can be set aside for nothing but hay production. With this being the sole product, these farmers can concentrate on producing a high-quality feed for cattle farmers and others who depend on hay for their livelihood. The cattle farmers can be guaranteed the required amount of a high-quality product and consumers can be assured the products they buy come from healthy animals.