What does a legacy look like? What makes a successful legacy?

Winter weather is ahead and most of the harvest season is behind us; the 2023 production year is coming to a close, with final prices taking shape and a better idea of what forage needs will look like over the winter.

A few weeks ago, I sat in the bleachers of our local high school’s first football game of the season.

While the promise of cooler weather and fall are quickly approaching, moisture conditions continue to determine the availability of winter feed.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from my experience in the agriculture industry, it is that almost nothing is more divisive than the subject of horses.

With the peak of summer behind us and the tempting cooler temperatures of fall approaching, the hay market is still driven by who is able to put up high-quality hay or not.

While I find it reassuring that so many of us had the same outlook and thoughts of perseverance toward protecting our livelihood, I couldn’t help but think there was a reverse side to my message.

As the growing season progresses, the difference moisture makes is becoming abundantly clear. While most markets are remaining steady and the demand for hay is good, heavy rains have delayed the haying season in many parts of the country.

You can tell a lot about a person by seeing the things they protect. 

As the weather warms up, the demand for hay is also warming. While producers anxiously await the ability to turn cattle out to graze, the slow exit of winter weather is demanding more hay to be bought.