Podcast — Equpiment
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
Hay Kings: East Coast Dynamics – OCD, Logistics, and Market Maturity with Stefan Hay Company (S9:E4)
Jon Paul Driver sits down with Mike Stefan of the Stephen Hay Company to talk about the "wild west" of the East Coast hay market—from his "OCD" approach to making high-end show cow hay to managing a diverse 4,000-acre operation near Buffalo, NY.
Hay Kings: 10 Reasons Not to Make Hay (S9:E1)
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.
Hay Kings: Logistics, Time, and the Future of Agricultural Exports (Part 2) (S8:E9)
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 volatility.
Sponsored by Krone – Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers.
Hay Kings: Logistics, Time, and the Future of Agricultural Exports (S8:E8)
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 the movement of ag products around the world.