How to Improve Hay Profits with Better Yield and Quality Tips

By Blake Jackson

Hay production is often described as a “game of threes,” according to University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Carson Roberts, who says profitability depends on managing equipment costs, forage quality, and yield. While round balers introduced in the 1970s made hay production faster and less labor-intensive, increased capacity does not automatically translate into better returns.

Roberts notes that machinery prices have risen far faster than calf values over the past several decades. Since the 1970s, baler costs have climbed roughly tenfold, while calf prices have increased only a little more than fivefold. Because of this imbalance, producers must carefully evaluate how their equipment investments affect overall margins.

Operations can improve returns in three main ways: downsizing machinery to fit acreage, boosting yields to spread costs per bale, or covering more acres with existing equipment. Roberts says the biggest opportunity is often higher yields provided the added input costs stay reasonable.

Historically, about 14 calves could justify the purchase of a baler; today it can take around 29 calves to cover the cost of a modern machine. Many Missouri cow-calf producers run 45-60 cows and harvest hay on roughly 75 acres. Production costs may average $60 per bale in strong yield years but can double in poor seasons because fixed expenses remain constant.

Tradition and feed security often drive haymaking decisions, but Roberts encourages producers to compare those benefits against the high cost of ownership. Converting some hay ground to grazing or buying hay instead may sometimes be more economical.

Quality also matters more than sheer volume. “This is not always the best strategy,” Roberts says, referring to maximizing output regardless of forage value. Early cuttings usually provide better nutrition, with more leaves, fewer stems, and higher protein.

He also advises smarter field practices, such as returning nutrients by feeding hay on frozen fields and rotating acres through graze-graze-hay systems. Roberts adds, “You can control the quality of the hay you purchase,” Roberts says. “But you cannot always control the quality of the hay you make.”

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