Last month, I touched on the long days of the growing season ahead, but I failed to mention another important “long” that kicks off the start of the summer. Specifically, the first Saturday in May at a certain famous venue in the heart of Kentucky.

I went for a walk today. When I dropped my kids off for the bus, it was 32ºF. By noon, when I emerged from the cocoon of my office, it was 58ºF, and the sun was shining. There was enough of a breeze to remind me that a jacket was the correct choice. 

As summer approaches, farmers and ranchers across the country are gearing up for the hay season ahead. Amid the anticipation of warmer weather and bustling fields, ensuring hay equipment is in optimal condition becomes a priority on the long to-do list for your farm.

At William K. Perry Farms, Bill, a fifth-generation farmer, has worked alongside his dad for the past 20 years. With many years of familial experience, they are working toward a more efficient operation by blending technology into tradition.

In the summer of 2021, the first diverse warm-season cover crop Kevin Pierce drilled into what had been a conventionally cropped monoculture of cereal rye on Noble Research Institute’s Red River Ranch was a big success.