MANAGEMENT

Whether it is a conscious action or not, we are all engaged in risk management planning. Prepaying for seed and fertilizer, planning crop rotations, farming in multiple locations and signing up for crop/farm insurance are all considered risk management activities.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I must confess that my family dairy chooses not to utilize the services of a custom harvester; however, my in-laws have been working with a custom harvester for the last six years. Which one is right? I’d argue both, given their specific situations.

The annual Washington State Hay Growers conference was held in January in the Tri-Cities of Washington (Pasco-Richland-Kennewick).

Profitable businesses generally have an “edge” of some sort over the competition.Some tend to focus on low cost. Other businesses are known for marketing exceptionally high-quality products that keep people coming back even if they cost a little more.

Hay crops in many ways are a unique crop to market.

The demand for hay in the winter is very closely tied to the past summer’s production and supporting weather. This alone does not make it much different than most grain crops and their markets. But it is here that the similarities end.

Forage management strategies are as varied as the farmers who grow the forages.

“Despite differing management plans, there are a few key concepts to remember with the advent of fall,” says a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.