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National Hay Association

"Not for Self, but for All"

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Welcome to the National Hay Association

 The National Hay Association, the national trade association for the U.S. hay industry, works daily within the industry, federal agencies, and the Congress itself to create an environment that benefits hay merchants and the people who depend on hay and straw in their commerce. A non-profit organization, NHA's activities are funded entirely through membership dues. NHA proudly represents hay producers, brokers, dealers and consumers of forage products, as well as disciplines and activities of businesses that provide products and services to the hay industry.


Hurricane Helene Destruction

Our thoughts go to those in the southeastern US who have been affected by the hurricane and particularly, those in southern North Carolina.  Total towns have been lost and the recovery efforts are ongoing.  

Many have called and asked how they can help.  Click here for information.    There are three sites for donations and they are open from 9-5,  7 days a week.  Among other livestock items, they are asking for round and square bales of hay.

If you need help in delivering hay or if you are near this area and have space to house livestock, please click here  to fill out a form to share that information.

Make Your Payments Online

Now you can make all of your membership and advertising payments online quickly and easily. 

Click on Membership or Advertising above, make your selection and Add it to the Cart.  View your Cart and you can continue shopping.  Return to the Home Page and select Membership or Advertising above and resume shopping.

When you are finished, select Pay Online or

Invoice me. 

Need our W-9?  Click here


Just Released USFEC Forage Impact Study!

Click here to read the statement

US Forage Export Council


2024 Haymaker of the Year

ANDY DOBSON

A little 7-year-old Arizona boy went to his neighbor asking about a tractor. The man told the child that he’d sell it to him for $5, thinking it would never happen. He was so excited that he ran home and gathered enough money to purchase his very first tractor, which was an old hand crank John Deere J. He drove it everywhere around the yard feeling bigger than life.

At the age of 12, he finally got to start operating a tractor in the field. This proved to be a good learning experience. He was cultivating cotton and wanted to be more efficient. There were 3 shanks on the cultivator, and he thought he would get a lot more done if he was cultivating 3 rows at a time instead of 2. Dad came to check on him and was livid.

After graduating from high school, he went to Fresno State on a Rodeo Scholarship bulldogging and calf roping. This was about the same time that the developers in Arizona started to squeeze farmers out. In 1973, his father went up north and bought a farm after a hired hand had told him about farming and irrigation in a small Idaho town.

Bordering the nearby lake, much of the ground was under water or full of weeds, which became an everyday battle on the new farm. Many farmers had gone broke trying to make a living in the area at that time. Land improvements began by laser leveling and building new ditches for even irrigation. Fields were cleaned up by better crop rotation and weed control.

Once the land was improved, they went to work developing a new market for their premium alfalfa. This was the same time he joined the National Hay Association. Eventually he would become the President. They started selling their 3 tie bales to racetracks on the east coast. They built a reputation for supplying a high-quality product. Soon buyers came looking for them.

As demand for their product grew, the needs for better storage grew also. They were innovative and started putting in hay sheds to store the bales in, which was unheard of in the area at that time.

To stay competitive, they had to find more cost-effective ways to ship hay. They started loading and shipping from train cars and dry vans to their east coast markets.

To continually improve, they started changing from flood irrigation to sprinkler systems increasing yields and consistency in their hay production. To further improve quality, they went from 2 crops per year to 3 crops. After his father passed away in 1988, he solely ran the farm.

Today, he’s still all about high quality alfalfa that he’s proud of. He farms with his daughter carrying on the legacy of many generations of premium hay producers.

Congratulations, Andy Dobson, Dobson Ranches, Terreton, Idaho, the 2024 Haymaker of the Year!

Andy Dobson with daughters Courtney (left) and Sloane (right).


THE NATIONAL HAY ASSOCIATION

4735 Massillon Road, Unit 769

Green, OH 44232

Copyright 2020 National Hay Association

Phone:  (615) 854-5574  Fax: (330) 408-7128

 Office Email:  NHAExecOffice@gmail.com

 Twitter:  @NatlHayAssoc

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