Podcast — Fertilizer
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 Podcast: Find the Little Things (S5:E2)
Andrew Eddie talks about the little things that make his farm work! "Hold true to the things that worked in the past but find the little things that work." Try something new but start small!
Sponsored by Vermeer - Your Expert in Hay and Forage Equipment
Hay Kings Podcast: Soil Health (S4:E4)
Cat Solais, director of research and technology for the McGregor Company, joins us to talk about soil health. "The more we understand what the product does, the better we can use it." If you are considering biological or conventional fertilizer options listen to this podcast!
Sponsored by Vermeer - Your expert in hay and forage equipment.