Javascript is required to use this website.

Farmers consider converting crop acres to hay

j.deyoung
Apr 5, 2019
Apr 5, 2019 Updated Apr 8, 2019

Charles Brown, Iowa State University Extension farm management specialist, says there is potential this year to make good money converting to hay ground.
File photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Hay shortages have not been uncommon the last several years, resulting in higher prices that may tempt some farmers to convert lower quality crop ground into hay or pasture.

kAmr92C=6D qC@H?[ x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ tIE6?D:@? 72C> >2?286>6?E DA64:2=:DE :? ~D<2=@@D2[ D2JD :E >2J >2<6 D6?D6 E@ A=2?E 8C2DD @C =68F>6D :?DE625 @7 4@C? 2?5 362?D]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 E96 r#! E92E H2D E2<6? @FE @7 E96 AC@8C2> 2 76H J62CD 8@ H6?E E@ 4@C? @C 362?D D:?46 AC:46D H6C6 D@ 9:89[” 96 D2JD] “%92E 8C@F?5 >2J 36 36EE6C DF:E65 7@C 92J AC@5F4E:@?]”k^Am

kAmqC@H? D2JD FD:?8 a_`h ?F>36CD[ :E 4@DED 23@FE Sc__ 2? 24C6 E@ A=2?E 4@C? @? 8C@F?5 E92E >2J J:6=5 `d_ 3FD96=D A6C 24C6] pE 2 AC:46 @7 Sb]d_ A6C 3FD96= 7@C 4@C?[ 96 D2JD E92E 2>@F?ED E@ 2 AC@7:E @7 S`ah A6C 24C6 :7 E96C6 2C6 ?@ 4@DED 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 =2?5]k^Am

kAmw6 D2JD :E 4@DED 23@FE Sahf A6C 24C6 E@ D665 2?5 AC6A2C6 92J 8C@F?5]k^Am

kAm“*@F 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E >@C6 E92? E9C66 J62CD @FE @7 E92E[ 3FE :7 H6 FD6 E9C66 J62CD[ E92E’D 23@FE S`__ A6C 24C6 A6C J62C[” qC@H? D2JD] “x7 J@F 2C6 86EE:?8 S`ad A6C E@? 7@C BF2=:EJ 92J[ J@F 2C6 8@:?8 E@ D66 2 AC@7:E @7 Sd` A6C E@?[ @C Sa_c A6C 24C6]k^Am

kAm“%96 A@E6?E:2= :D E96C6 E@ >2<6 D@>6 AC6EEJ 8@@5 >@?6J @? 92J]”k^Am

kAmqC@H? D2JD AC@5F46CD 4@F=5 564:56 E@ 8C@H 9:896C\BF2=:EJ 92J 2?5 D6== :?E@ E96 52:CJ @C DA64:2=EJ 92J >2C<6ED]k^Am

People are also reading…

Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Illinois brothers carry on dairy tradition
Better days for beets
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
From the ground up: Jade Jandel builds his cattle herd on functionality, longevity
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Rodeo legacy lives on in Wessington Springs Family
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
Long time coming: Cattle to Canada, rain on the ground and remodel progress
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts

kAm|2<:?8 E96 492?86 C6BF:C6D AC6A2C2E:@?[ D2JD #636442 ':EE6E@6[ x@H2 $E2E6 tIE6?D:@? 7@C286 DA64:2=:DE :? (2D9:?8E@?[ x@H2] $@:= D9@F=5 36 E6DE65 2?5 2?J :>32=2?46D D9@F=5 36 4@CC64E65]k^Am

kAm(665 AC6DDFC6 >FDE 2=D@ 36 2DD6DD65]k^Am

kAm“x7 E96 8C@F?5 :D :? C@H 4C@AD[ :E :D =6DD =:<6=J E96C6 2C6 2?J A6C6??:2= H665D E92? E96C6 >:89E 36 :7 J@F H6C6 4@?G6CE:?8 A2DEFC6 :?E@ 92J 8C@F?5[” ':EE6E@6 D2JD] “x7 J@F 2C6 D665:?8 2=72=72[ J@F 2C6 >@C6 =:>:E65 :? H92E J@F 42? DAC2J E@ <:== H665D]”k^Am

kAm$96 D2JD E96 7665 BF2=:EJ @7 E96 92J H:== 36 36EE6C :7 =68F>6D 2C6 2 A2CE @7 E96 7:6=5] |@DE AC@5F46CD H:== FD6 2 ?@\E:== 5C:== E@ D665 92J 8C@F?5[ 2?5 ':EE6E@6 C64@>>6?5D 2 D665 56AE9 @7 `⁄g E@ ¼ :?496D]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F 86E :E E@@ 566A[ :E’D >@C6 5:77:4F=E E@ 6DE23=:D9 E92E DE2?5[” D96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmt2C=J pAC:= :D 2 8@@5 E:>6 E@ D665 8C2DD 2?5 =68F>6D[ ':EE6E@6 255D]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F 42?’E 5@ :E E96?[ :E’D AC@323=J 36DE E@ H2:E F?E:= 72==[” D96 D2JD] “r@@=\D62D@? 8C2DD6D H:== ?@E 8C@H G6CJ H6== :? E96 962E @7 E96 DF>>6C]”k^Am

kAm}6H 92J 8C@F?5 42? 36 8C2K65 :7 ?646DD2CJ[ 2?5 ':EE6E@6 DF886DED 92J 36 2E =62DE `_ E@ `a :?496D :? 96:89E 367@C6 :E :D 32=65]k^Am

kAm$96 D2JD :7 8C2DD D665 :D 36:?8 A=2?E65 @? =2DE J62C’D 4@C? 8C@F?5[ E9@D6 7:6=5D D9@F=5 36 8C2K65 @C E96 4@C?DE2=<D 32=65]k^Am

kAm“%96? J@F 5@?’E 92G6 E96 C6D:5F6 :? E96 H2J @7 E96 ?6H D665:?8[” ':EE6E@6 D2JD] “*@F H2?E E92E DE2?5 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 7:?5 E96 DF?]”k^Am