Hay Kings

Hay Kings: Policy Parity & The 95% Succession with Mike Stefan (Episode 107)

Is the hay industry better off as a "free market microcosm," or does the lack of ARC/PLC support put producers at a disadvantage? Jon Paul Driver sits down with Mike and Ryan Stefan of Stefan Hay Company for a candid look at policy parity and a radical approach to farm succession.

They break down:

⚖️ The Policy Balance: A neutral look at the hay vs. row crop divide. They weigh the benefits of a "level playing field" against the heavy compliance risks of government oversight, asking if hay is stronger staying outside the subsidy system.

🔄 The 95/5 Succession: Mike shares his "magical" transition model—transferring 95% of the LLC ownership to his sons in their 20s. Why waiting until the next generation is 50 to "take over" is a recipe for stagnation.

📦 Retail Consistency: 21-year-old Ryan Stefan explains how his high-tech press is turning hay into a "grocery store" experience. In a cooling market, consistent 40lb bundles are the ultimate differentiator.

🌧️ Managing the "East": From tiling fields every 20 feet to carrying low debt, the Stefans share the high-stakes management needed to survive 50 inches of rain and "lake effect" moisture.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone — Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers
🔗 Listen at hay-kings.com

Hay Kings: The Domestic Pivot & The Consistency Challenge (Episode 106)

With the export market cooling off, hay is staying home—but are producers ready for the domestic shift? Jon Paul Driver welcomes back Cosmos Fitzpatrick for a boots-on-the-ground look at the 2026 domestic hay landscape. From the "Yellowstone effect" in the equine industry to the high-tech hay drying barns of the Northeast, they break down why "business as usual" won't cut it in this cycle.

They cover:

• 📉 The 830-Load Reality: How the domestic market is moving volume without the "spikes" of previous years, and why 2026 is becoming a battle of efficiency.

• 🐎 The Migration Map: Understanding the seasonal shift of the equine industry and why a drought in the desert doesn't always move the needle on demand.

• 🏭 The Drying Revolution: How New York, Vermont, and Quebec are using advanced hay drying technology to challenge the West’s "superiority" by eliminating freight costs.

• 🥛 The Consistency Barrier: Why dairies want to buy dry alfalfa but often stick to silage—and how "controlling the controllables" like ash content can win back the bunk.

• 🚜 The Alfalfa Surge: Why we’re seeing more alfalfa acres going into the ground in the Southwest despite the market pressure, and the "next best option" logic driving it.

• 💼 The Nimble Advantage: Why big, bloated operations are falling while small, agile producers who know their cost of production are finding the path forward.

Cosmos delivers a masterclass on navigating the "gloomy" headlines with a dose of optimism, reminding us that tough times are the ultimate filter for building a resilient business.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone — Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers
🔗 Listen at hay-kings.com

Hay Kings: Intellectual Honesty - Navigating the 2026 Market Reset (Episode 105)

🎧 Episode 105: The $600 Million Inventory Bloodbath 

Jon Paul Driver sits down with Scott Courtright of Courtright Enterprises for a brutally honest assessment of the hay export crisis. They move past the surface-level talk to provide the intellectual honesty required to navigate an industry that has effectively wiped out $600 million in equity through inventory write-downs and a historic demand collapse.

They cover:

• 📉 The $600 Million Hit: A conservative look at the massive inventory write-downs that have devastated balance sheets and redefined the Pacific Northwest market.

• 🚢 The "Disaster" Mechanics: How the fastest rate-hike cycle in history triggered a 40% collapse in customer purchasing power, evaporating 1 million tons of global demand.

• 🏭 The Machine Graveyard: Why there are 20+ export presses in the U.S. that may never turn on again—and why "overcapacity" is a terminal threat to current margins.

• 🤝 Intellectual Honesty: The industry-leading insight that "talking your book" is a recipe for failure; why being realistic about market conditions is the only path to the 2026 reset.

• 🏗️ The Asset Trap: A deep dive into the shift from double-digit appreciation to negative cash flow, and what happens to the industry when land values finally hit a wall.

• 🌾 Survival vs. Sustainability: From "nutrient mining" in the soil to short-term on-farm maneuvers, exploring the risks when growers are forced to sacrifice long-term health for immediate survival.

• 🌍 The Global Price War: How the U.S. is struggling to compete with $200 Pakistan alfalfa and the reality of international competitors growing their footprint.

Scott delivers a masterclass in market realism, explaining why the current shakeout is far from over and why managing through the "hard hat" era requires a radical shift in how we view the hay business.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver

🤝 Sponsored by Krone — Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers

🔗 Listen at hay-kings.com

Hay Kings: East Coast Dynamics – OCD, Logistics, and Market Maturity with Stefan Hay Company (S9:E4)

A multi-generational farm survival story isn’t just about hard work—it’s about market evolution.

On the Hay Kings podcast, Mike Stefan of Stefan Hay Company joins Jon Paul Driver to explain how he transitioned from a school teacher to a premier forage producer by treating the "East Coast/West Coast" divide as an opportunity. From leveraging his "OCD" to dominate the high-stakes show-cow market to building a retail "Walmart of Hay," Mike breaks down the necessity of being a "competent neighbor" in an era of massive dairy consolidation.

This episode is required listening for growers looking to diversify their operations, producers managing multi-generational transitions, and anyone navigating the complex logistics of the modern hay trade.

Hosted by Jon Paul Driver

Sponsored by Krone - Dedicated to Hay and Forage Growers

Learn more at Hay-Kings.com

Hay Kings: Hay Exports - Reckoning and Renewal (S9:E3)

The Anderson Chapter 11 filing isn’t an isolated failure—it’s a signal.

On the Hay Kings podcast, Don Schilling explains why years of distorted market signals, excess press capacity, and non-profit-driven capital reshaped the hay export industry.

This episode is required listening for growers, exporters, lenders, and anyone paid by the ton.

Hosted by Jon Paul Driver 

Sponsored by Krone - Dedicated to Hay and Forage Growers

Learn more at Hay-Kings.com

Hay Kings: HayCon to Hay Exports (S9:E2)

🎧 Episode 102 of the Hay Kings Podcast
📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app

Jon Paul Driver sits down with Jesse Bounds to talk about what’s next for the hay industry — from HayCon 2025 in Las Vegas to pivoting through low prices, export disruptions, and changing markets.

They cover:
🌾 The vision behind HayCon and how it’s different from a typical trade show
💧 Irrigation and water challenges across the West
📈 Finance and farm management sessions planned for the conference
🚢 Global hay exports and the impact of exchange rates on profitability
💻 Technology and the launch of Hay X, a new inventory and logistics tracking tool
🤝 The power of networking in hard times

Jesse shares honest, real-world insight about how growers can adapt, collaborate, and find opportunity even in tough conditions.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone — Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers
🔗 Listen at hay-kings.com

Hay Kings: 10 Reasons Not to Make Hay (S9:E1)

🎧 Episode 101 of the Hay Kings Podcast
📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app

Making hay isn’t always the best decision. Dr. Carson Roberts, Assistant Professor and Forage Specialist at the University of Missouri, joins host Jon Paul Driver to unpack his controversial article: “10 Reasons You Should Quit Making Hay.”

From skyrocketing equipment costs to oversupply, soil health, and alternative winter feeding strategies, this episode challenges assumptions and sparks fresh thinking about specialization, economics, and forage management.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone – Dedicated to Hay and Forage Growers
🔗 Listen: hay-kings.com

#HayKings #FarmLife #HayFarming #ForageProduction #Krone #AgriculturePodcast

Hay Kings: Growing Up Hay Kings (100th Episode) (S8:E12)

🎧 Episode 100 of the Hay Kings Podcast
📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app

The Hay Kings Podcast hits a major milestone — 100 episodes! To celebrate, host Jon Paul Driver is joined by his niece, Avery Rowe, for a fun and personal conversation about farm life. From long, hot days on open-station tractors to mastering balers, rakes, and breakdowns, Avery shares six summers’ worth of stories from the hayfield while balancing her finance and Spanish studies at Washington State University. A perfect mix of family, lessons learned, and the lighter side of hay farming.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone – Dedicated to Hay and Forage Growers
🔗 Listen: hay-kings.com

#HayKings #100Episodes #FarmLife #HayFarming #ForageProduction #Krone #AgriculturePodcast

Hay Kings: Turning a Wet Start Into a Winning Forage Season (S8:E11)

🎧 Episode 99 of the Hay Kings Podcast
📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app

In this episode of the Hay Kings Podcast, forage consultant Daniel Olson joins host Jon Paul Driver to dissect the fallout from a disastrous first cutting in the Northeast. They explore practical, proactive steps for dairy producers including tighter harvest intervals, crop diversification, and fiber digestibility management. This is a must-listen for anyone managing forage quality under unpredictable weather.

🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone - Dedicated to Hay and Forage Growers
🔗 Listen: hay-kings.com

#HayKings #DairyConsulting #ForagePlanning #Krone #Agronomy #DairyNutrition

Hay Kings: Beating Alfalfa Weevil (S8:E10)

🎧 Episode 98 of the Hay Kings Podcast
📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app

Alfalfa weevils are turning into a high-stakes pest—and pyrethroid resistance is making the problem worse. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Erica Rodbell, Forage Research Agronomist at Forage Genetics International, and Jeffrey “Alfalfa” Jackson to dive deep into practical solutions. From regional scouting tips to insecticide rotation strategies, early cutting, and even grazing as pest control—this episode is packed with actionable insights to protect your yield and quality.

#HayKingsPodcast #AlfalfaWeevil #PestManagement #ForageScience #ScoutingMatters #InsecticideResistance #KroneNA #HayAndForage #CropProtection #EntomologyInAction #FarmSmarter

Sponsored by Krone – Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers.
To learn more about Krone visit KRONE-na.com