FOR HAY PRODUCERS
Start growing more.
And worrying less.
We bring the experience and expertise needed to assess your farm, identify operational weaknesses, and build practical strategies that improve yield, quality, and overall farm profitability.
CONSULTING
Make better decisions, field by field.
We work with hay producers on the business and operating decisions that shape long-term performance. Together, we build five-year field operating plans, prepare budgets, review seasonal priorities, and evaluate equipment decisions.
The aim is to improve rolling average income per acre while paying attention to the small details that influence yield and hay quality. Crop and agronomy decisions remain with you and your crop adviser or agronomy partners.
Complete Farm Plan
$12.50 / acre
For farms that want an expert, field-by-field plan they can put into action with their own team.
- Complete assessment of the current operation
- Field-by-field production and improvement plan
- Yield, quality, cost, and profitability targets
- Prioritized written recommendations and action steps
Base Consulting
$25 / acre annually
For capable farms that know they can improve and want focused support to reach the next level.
- Complete Farm Plan included
- FW Farm Operating System access
- Operating-plan reviews
- Budget and seasonal-priority guidance
- Primarily remote consulting with agreed farm visits
Full-Service Oversight
$50 / acre annually
For farms that need dedicated management support. We fill the role of a ranch manager—planning the work, coordinating with your team, tracking performance, and holding everyone accountable for following through.
- Everything in Base Consulting
- Five-year field operating plans
- Weekly visits and additional visits as needed
- Hands-on business and operating oversight
COMPLETE FARM PLAN
A clear plan for every acre.
GB Hay evaluates the current operation, identifies the biggest opportunities, and delivers a practical planning document your team can use to improve yield, quality, efficiency, and profitability.
ABOUT MARTIN FIELDING
Built in the field.
Grounded in the numbers.
I’m Martin Fielding, a hay grower, farm owner, and the founder of GB Hay Consulting. My experience includes buying and selling farms, building a farm from the ground up, and growing Great Basin Ranching from a 100-acre operation into more than 750 acres. Over more than a decade, I’ve worked through both the hands-on challenges of producing quality hay and the business decisions that determine whether a farm succeeds.
Over time, I realized that my greatest contribution wasn’t in harvesting hay, but in growing it—and making the decisions that lead to a better crop and a stronger business. That realization led me to step back from harvesting and focus on crop management, planning, and improving farm performance. Through GB Hay Consulting, I’m bringing that same focus to other farms.
I know how difficult it can be to balance the daily work of farming with managing the business. When you’re irrigating, getting hay out of the field, and keeping cash flowing, it’s hard to find the time and perspective to evaluate performance and plan ahead. That’s where I come in.
I help farmers identify what’s holding their operations back, develop practical strategies, and put those plans into action. Through ongoing consulting and oversight, I follow up on commitments, hold the team accountable, and work with you to track progress and make timely adjustments—keeping the farm on course toward better yields, higher quality, and stronger profitability.
GB HAY MARKET REPORTS
Weekly perspective. Regional detail.
A concise GB Hay AI-assisted read of the latest public hay reports, followed by the underlying reports.
LATEST WESTERN FORAGE UPDATE California retail strength contrasts with slower Oregon movementNew California and Oregon reports; Nevada and Idaho retain October 16 source dates.
California's October 23 report describes good retail and dairy demand. Oregon's October 22 report describes slower movement except for small bales to stables. Nevada and Idaho remain based on October 16 reports.
GB Hay interpretation: Compare hay by grade, package and delivered cost rather than treating these regional signals as a single market trend.
Growing-region summaries
NEVADA Demand stays good as bale volume declinesConfirmed tonnage held steady while reported bales fell from the prior period.Read AI summary
Nevada’s October 16 report describes steady movement and good demand across hay types. Confirmed hay tonnage held at 4,950, while reported bale volume declined to 1,080 from 4,150. USDA again noted that some California dairies were buying large alfalfa lots and that small-bale demand remained good statewide.
Reported trades included Supreme eastern Nevada alfalfa at $210 per ton FOB to a dairy, Premium eastern alfalfa at $230 FOB to farm and ranch buyers, Central Premium alfalfa at $235–$250, and Premium three-tie alfalfa at $17 per bale. These are individual transactions, not statewide price ranges.
What to watch: Whether good stated demand produces renewed bale volume and whether California dairy buying continues. This is a GB Hay interpretation, not a USDA forecast.
IDAHO Prices steady as buyers favor smaller loadsModerate demand and high diesel costs continue to restrain movement.Read AI summary
Idaho’s October 16 report describes demand across hay types as moderate and alfalfa prices as steady. Confirmed hay volume held at 3,825 tons. USDA said movement remained slow, buyers mostly purchased small loads, and dairies and feedlots were waiting for lower prices before committing to larger lots.
Reported trades included Premium large-square alfalfa at $220–$230 per ton FOB in eastern Idaho, Premium at $225 FOB in southern Idaho, and Premium at $250 FOB to farm and ranch buyers in southeastern Idaho. Good southeastern alfalfa traded at $220. These are specific confirmed trades with different grades and terms, not statewide price ranges.
What to watch: Whether buyers continue to delay larger purchases and whether diesel costs keep delivered prices firm. This is a GB Hay interpretation, not a USDA forecast.
OREGON Movement slows; stable small bales remain in demandThe report is dated October 22 and covers the week ending October 23.Read AI summary
Confirmed hay trade totaled 810 tons and 1,024 bales. Small bales to stables were the exception to slower movement. Source: October 22, 2026; week ending October 23.
GB Hay interpretation: Document rain exposure and feed quality before comparing lots. Stable demand and bulk-feed movement can behave differently; confirm freight and buyer requirements before committing inventory.
CALIFORNIA Retail alfalfa and stock hay strengthenUSDA reports good retail and dairy demand, with higher prices in selected segments.Read AI summary
Retail three-tie alfalfa rose $25 per ton in two regions; dry-cow and stock hay rose $5. Source: October 23, 2026.
GB Hay interpretation: Separate retail demand from bulk dairy requirements when setting asking prices. A higher price in one segment does not establish a statewide increase. Compare net returns after freight, testing and handling.
The weekly overview reflects GB Hay’s Western Forage Market Brief. Regional AI summaries are based on the dated USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports linked above. The USDA PDF links point to the current version; summary dates remain fixed until a new GB Hay update is published. Confirm grade, bale weight, terms, freight, and live bids before transacting.
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Start with a clear view of your business.
Tell us about your farm, your priorities, and what you want to improve. We’ll start the conversation from there.
Martin Fielding
GB Hay Consulting · Doyle, California