Hay Kings

Jon Paul Driver sits down with Dr. Carson Roberts, assistant research professor and state Extension specialist in forage agronomy at the University of Missouri, to examine whether companion crops help—or hurt—a new alfalfa stand.

Dr. Roberts draws on research comparing solo-seeded alfalfa, oat companion crops, herbicide programs and different irrigation levels.

🎧 Episode 110 of the Hay Kings Podcast

📲 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts Jon Paul Driver sits down with Jacob Cummins of White Pine Flats Farms to talk about an unexpected return to dairying—not with 100 cows, but with two.

What started as a way for Jacob's kids to show dairy cattle has grown into a licensed micro dairy selling raw ...

Is your farm's productivity being capped by outdated machinery, or are you ready to optimize every single acre this season? Jon Paul Driver sits down with good friend and industry insider Mike Leaden for a candid, behind-the-scenes chat on what it really takes to stay ahead in the modern forage industry.

They break down:

🤝 Peer-to-Peer Wisdom: Why the best insights don't always come from a textbook, but from candid, off-the-cuff c...

Is your operation being driven by real data, or are you just telling yourself comfortable lies in the farm office? Jon Paul Driver sits down with Jeff Jackson for a candid, zero-nonsense look at stripping the "black magic" out of farm business management and record keeping.

They break down:

🛑 The 3 Financial Lies: Why managing by your checking account balance, relying on distorted tax records, or putting off data entry until "tomo...

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 hea...

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 Re...

🎧 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:

• 📉...

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...

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 ...

🎧 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 chal...

🎧 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 alternat...

🎧 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...

🎧 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 ...

🎧 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 tip...

In this episode of the Hay Kings Podcast, host Jon Paul Driver is joined by logistics veteran Eric Wright of Portland Container. Together, they unpack the rhythm of global container flow, the hidden costs of just-in-time supply chains, and why parts availability matters more than ever for agriculture. From tariff shocks to warehouse trends, this episode gives hay and forage producers a strategic lens for navigating supply volatilit...

In this episode of Hay Kings, host Jon Paul Driver is joined by Eric Wright of Portland Container to break down the complex world of logistics and how it affects hay and agricultural exports. From container shortages and tariff risks to the high cost of downtime, Eric explains why time is the most valuable—and unforgiving—resource in the freight game. This episode dives deep into the challenges and choices that shape th...

What do you do when your hay gets so sugary it turns to concrete inside the baler? Stefan Hollmann joins host Jon Paul Driver to talk about high-sugar hay challenges, frost-damaged canola, and why chamber liners are a must in South Australia.

🔥 Topics include: • Why canola hay gums up your baler • How plastic liners save time • The limits of bale density and export weight • Aussie innovations—like homemade 20-meter rakes

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On this episode of the Hay Kings Podcast, host Jon Paul Driver sits down with Stefan Hollmann, a seasoned baler operator who took his skills from a family farm in Germany to the demanding fields of South Australia. Stefan shares his mastery of high-density baling in some of the world’s toughest conditions. With over 100,000 bales under his belt, Stefan offers real-world insights into machine setup, twine technology, and why p...

In this episode of the Hay Kings Podcast, Jon Paul Driver sits down with Mark Mendez of MMT Ag to explore the evolution of California’s hay market and the challenges facing dairies and forage producers. From falling demand to rising labor costs, Mendez offers grounded insight on surviving tight margins, building strong teams, and preparing the next generation for success. This is a must-listen conversation for anyone navigati...