The optimist in me wants to emphasize what a glorious time of year the holidays can be. Thanksgiving evokes a profound sense of nostalgia, a time when the warmth of family and tradition comes together in a celebration of gratitude. The aroma of roasted turkey and savory stuffing fills the air, transporting us to childhood kitchens where laughter and stories were shared.

I love cows. I’d think that, if you’re reading this bit of prose, the chances are pretty good you may have a deep connection with that simple three-word phrase.

As a researcher, I spend all day, every day working alongside people in the forage industry to develop solutions for farmers to overcome the countless challenges facing their operations.

“Rudolph,” the white truck with the red fiberglass hood, and I were northbound on U.S. Highway 93 between Ely, Nevada, and Twin Falls, Idaho, running bareback, or bobtail, after dropping a pair of van trailers at Kennon’s new hay ranch by Nyala, Nevada. It was quite the move from central Washington state.

While harvest slows down and cooler temperatures take over, the hay market is also showing some frosty edges. As they 2023 growing season comes to an end, we have a better idea of hay stores and what we have to deal with going into the winter months. Take a closer look at what prices and conditions are in each region in the Progressive Forage Forage Market Insights column as of Oct. 9, 2024.

A fellow I knew was a fieldman/salesman for a twine string company, mainly dealing with twine for hay balers.