Articles by Marian Viney

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A behind-the-scenes look at a high-tech California dairy

Innovation was evident on the tour of Rib‑Arrow Dairy, a few miles from the expo grounds. The Ribeiro family has been dairying for more than 100 years, and they are leaning into technology – not to replace herdsmanship skills but to sharpen it.
March 10, 2026
Marian Viney

Rib‑Arrow Dairy uses a fully connected system – vision monitoring, activity collars, cow‑locating tools and automated footbaths – to spot changes early and respond fast.


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Forage Market Insights: Markets hold steady as spring nears

Hay and feed markets remain steady but cautious as drought lingers and producers manage inventories conservatively. Cost pressures and the overall economic climate continue to influence planning, while drought‑affected fields and late‑season weather shape early‑spring expectations.
February 21, 2026
Marian Viney

Winter is loosening, but markets stay cautious as drought signals, uneven forage quality and rising input costs shape early‑spring decisions.


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GrassWorks Grazing Conference 2026: Pastures to prosperity – building financially smart grazing systems

The 2026 GrassWorks Grazing Conference showcased practical innovation, farmer‑led learning and the financial strength of well‑managed grazing systems. Sessions, speakers and trade show underscored grazing’s role in building resilient, profitable farms.
February 13, 2026
Marian Viney

GrassWorks Grazing Conference 2026 highlighted how graziers are turning pastures into prosperity through financially smart, resilient grazing systems.


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Profit and legacy: Ensuring ranch viability for successors

Profit, clarity and communication form the foundation of successful ranch succession, ensuring the business remains viable and attractive for future generations. By treating ranching as a business – with defined roles, intentional planning and a long‑term vision – families can preserve their legacy and their land. Strong transitions happen when operations offer profit, purpose and room for the next generation to grow.
February 11, 2026
Marian Viney

A Wyoming family uses clarity, communication and business discipline to build a ranch the next generation wants to come back to.


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U.S. forage statistics: How 2025 shaped U.S. forage supplies

Hay markets opened 2025 on firmer footing, with alfalfa, grass and mixed hay all starting the year stronger amid tight winter supplies and higher freight costs. Western prices held a premium, Midwest and Plains markets stayed steady, and national forage production remained broadly stable as modest yield gains balanced regional shifts.
February 10, 2026
Marian Viney

Early‑year hay prices strengthened across much of the country, reversing the softness that marked most of 2024.


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From pasture to policy: Insights from the AFGC Conference

Forage and grassland resources make up more than half of the nation’s land area – about 55% – and support a livestock sector generating tens of billions of dollars in farmgate sales. That scale underscores the importance of the AFGC Conference, held this year in Asheville, North Carolina.
January 30, 2026
Marian Viney

More than 55% of U.S. land is forage ground – and producers continue to make those acres work for the future. AFGC’s Asheville conference reflected that optimism and shared purpose.


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Forage Market Insights: Hay, feed costs and the broader market outlook

Winter demand is steady but selective, with uneven prices driven by wide quality gaps. Drought continues to shape regional conditions, from persistent Midwest and Northeast dryness to heavy feeding needs in the Southeast. About 42% of hay acreage remains drought affected.
January 28, 2026
Marian Viney

Winter has tightened its grip, keeping hay markets steady but cautious as producers navigate uneven quality, feeding demand and slow exports.


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Positioning 2025 feed for success in 2026

The 2025 growing season featured regional contrasts that shaped forage quality and overall crop performance. Katie Raver highlights what those patterns mean for interpreting 2025 feed and planning rations into 2026.
January 27, 2026
Marian Viney

Producers may not have harvested a perfect crop in 2025, but thoughtful pairing, management and a focus on gut health can still set rations up for success.


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Assessing the 2025 growing season while anticipating the 2026 outlook

Weather conditions changed dramatically during the course of the last growing season, with drought easing in some areas while emerging in others. By winter, attention had shifted eastward, where new dryness raised concerns for soil moisture heading into the next growing season.
December 26, 2025
Marian Viney

The 2025 growing season saw drought recede in the west, only to emerge east of the Mississippi, setting up an uncertain 2026 outlook as producers brace for shifting moisture patterns.


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