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.
FW Farm Operating System
$10 / acre annually
For well-run farms that want clearer insight into their current farming operations.
- App and web-dashboard access
- Easy data entry for employees and consultants
- Near-real-time farm analysis
- Visibility into yield, quality, costs, and inventory
Base Consulting
$25 / acre annually
For capable farms that know they can improve and want focused support to reach the next level.
- 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 underperforming farms that need hands-on support to restore high yields, strong quality, and dependable profitability.
- Everything in Base Consulting
- Five-year field operating plans
- Weekly visits and additional visits as needed
- Hands-on business and operating oversight
FW FARM OPERATING SYSTEM
Your farm, in real time.
FW makes it easy for employees and consultants to contribute farm data through an app and web dashboard. Streamlined analysis helps you see what is happening across the business and where attention is needed.
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 Retail supply tightens in California as Oregon volume risesCalifornia retail alfalfa strengthened while Oregon reported more confirmed volume and good demand. Click for the written summary.
California’s October 9 report shows 7,300 confirmed hay tons, down from 25,550, while reported bale volume rose to 68,683 from 44,544. USDA described retail and dairy demand as good and reported Southeast California Retail #1 three-tie alfalfa $35–$40 per ton higher than two weeks earlier as supply tightened.
Oregon confirmed 4,995 tons, up from 1,195, and 6,144 bales, up from 1,024. Demand was good across qualities, but high fuel costs, stocked buyers, and rain damage to third crop continued to limit movement. These are reported transactions and GB Hay interpretations, not statewide forecasts.
Growing-region summaries
NEVADA Good demand lifts confirmed volumeCalifornia dairies bought large alfalfa lots while small-bale demand remained strong.Read AI summary
Nevada’s October 1 report describes steady movement and good demand across hay types. Confirmed hay tonnage rose to 4,950 from 1,250, while reported bale volume increased to 4,150 from 1,062. USDA noted that some California dairies were buying large alfalfa lots and that stable demand for small bales 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, Good central alfalfa at $220, and Premium timothy at $17 per three-tie bale to stables. These are individual transactions, not statewide price ranges.
What to watch: Whether California dairy buying continues and whether higher confirmed volume can be sustained amid widespread drought. 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 1 direct-hay report describes demand across hay types as moderate and alfalfa prices as steady. Confirmed hay volume was 3,825 tons, compared with 3,984 in the prior report. USDA said movement slowed, 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, whether diesel costs keep delivered prices firm, and whether drought pressure tightens availability later in the season. This is a GB Hay interpretation, not a USDA forecast.
OREGON Confirmed volume rises while movement stays constrainedDemand is good, but fuel costs, stocked buyers, and rain damage weigh on movement.Read AI summary
Oregon’s October 9 report describes good demand across all hay qualities. Confirmed hay tonnage rose to 4,995 from 1,195, and reported bale volume increased to 6,144 from 1,024. USDA also said movement had decreased because of fuel prices and buyers being stocked for the time being.
Reported trades included Lake County Supreme alfalfa at $255 per ton FOB to a dairy, Northeast Supreme alfalfa at $245 delivered for export, Klamath Basin Premium orchardgrass at $17 per three-tie bale, and Lake County rain-damaged Good alfalfa at $200. These are specific transactions, not statewide quotes.
What to watch: Whether good demand translates into sustained movement once inventories turn, and how rain damage and freight widen quality and location spreads. This is a GB Hay interpretation, not a USDA forecast.
CALIFORNIA Retail alfalfa strengthens as supply tightensReported bale volume climbed even as confirmed tonnage declined.Read AI summary
California’s October 9 report describes good retail and dairy demand. Confirmed hay volume decreased to 7,300 tons from 25,550, while reported bale volume increased to 68,683 from 44,544.
In Southeast California, Retail #1 three-tie alfalfa sold $35–$40 per ton higher than two weeks earlier, which growers attributed to tightening supply. Reported North Intermountain trades included Premium/Supreme large-square alfalfa at $240–$260 per ton FOB and Premium retail alfalfa at $13–$16 per three-tie bale. These are specific trades, not statewide price ranges.
What to watch: Whether retail tightness persists and whether the shift toward reported bale activity continues. This is a GB Hay interpretation, not a USDA forecast.
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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