Need Some Hay? There’s an App for That!
Hay for sale signs dot the rural countryside throughout the United States. While this seems like an antiquated way of doing business, it actually makes sense.
Hay producers want to know who their customers are and this can be difficult to do over the internet or the phone. After all, it takes a great deal of time and money to load a truck full of hay and drive it to a customer only to find out that the customer is nowhere to be found or that they aren’t happy with the type of hay that arrives.
In 2016, things began to change for hay producers and those who want to buy hay thanks to the introduction of various hay apps. These apps allow hay growers and balers to connect with farmers, ranchers and others interested in buying hay. Those selling hay through apps can provide prospective buyers with the following information:
- Where they are located
- How much they have to sell
- Bale size and weight
- How the bale is bound
- How the hay is being stored
- Whether it will be loaded by the producer or buyer
- Price and purchase requirements, if any
- Payment types accepted
Mobile apps for hay-related purchases don’t end there, either. An app developed by the University of Minnesota Extension helps horse owners figure out how much hay they need to feed their animals. Purchasing hay for horses can be especially tricky because of the fact that horses have different dietary requirements.
The “Hay Price Calculator” app allows horse owners to enter the weight of a bale and the price in order to calculate how much the hay costs per ton. It also allows calculations for hay bales, for example small square-bales, large square-bales and round-bales. This helps horse owners to buy hay at the best prices. While the app doesn’t account for nutritional value it can be used to compare prices of hay that contains comparable forage nutritive values.
Another app, “The Healthy Horse” app estimates the body weight of different types of horses by inputting a horse’s height, body length, neck and girth. The ideal body weight for a particular horse is then calculated.
Buying and selling hay for livestock feed can be complicated. Thankfully, technology is catching up to make the process easier.