Podcast — Alfalfa
Hay Kings: Policy Parity & The 95% Succession with Mike Stefan (Episode 107)
In this episode of the Hay Kings podcast, Jon Paul Driver explores the radical management strategies of the Stefan Hay Company in New York. Operating in a high-moisture environment that requires intensive tiling and a low-debt approach, the Stefans offer a masterclass in modernizing the family farm.
The discussion centers on two critical pillars: farm policy and transition planning. Mike Stefan shares his 95/5 succession model, in which he transferred nearly all LLC ownership to his sons in their early 20s to avoid the stagnation that can occur when the next generation waits too long to build equity. On the policy front, the conversation offers a neutral look at the divide between hay and row crops. They weigh the benefits of a free-market approach against the need for parity, suggesting that improved insurance programs—rather than distorting direct payments—may be the key to a level playing field for the nation’s third-largest crop.
🎙 Hosted by Jon Paul Driver
🤝 Sponsored by Krone — Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers
🔗 Listen at hay-kings.com
Episode 106: The Domestic Pivot & The Consistency Challenge (S9:E6)
Title: Episode 106: The Domestic Hay Pivot & The Consistency Challenge | Hay Kings
Meta Description: Join Jon Paul Driver and Cosmos Fitzpatrick as they discuss the 2026 hay market reset. Learn why domestic demand is shifting, how Eastern hay dryers are challenging Western consistency, and the critical steps producers must take to remain nimble in a high-interest environment.
Sponsored by Krone - dedicated to hay and forage growers
Keywords: Hay Kings Podcast, Jon Paul Driver, Cosmos Fitzpatrick, hay market 2026, alfalfa prices, dairy hay consistency, hay export crisis, Krone hay equipment, forage production, domestic hay demand.
Hay Kings: Intellectual Honesty - Navigating the 2026 Market Reset (S9:E5)
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.
Hay Kings: Hay Exports - Reckoning and Renewal (S9:E3)
From Reckoning to Renewal in Hay Exports, this episode digs into the structural reset underway in global forage markets and what it means for growers, exporters, and rural communities.
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 Forge Producers
🔗 Listen: hay-kings.com
#HayKings #DairyConsulting #ForagePlanning #Krone #Agronomy #DairyNutrition