The majority of all livestock producers in Stokes County would be considered on the smaller end of the production scale, thus it makes sense to purchase hay rather than to make your own. "Hay production may no longer be the most efficient or profitable use of your time and resources", Carson Roberts, University of Missouri, Drovers Magazine, retrieved September 17, 2025. Here are 10 reasons you should quit making hay:

1. High equipment costs
2. Over-equipped farms
3. Haying takes time
4. Labor storages
5. Variable forage quality
6. Oversupply of hay
7. Haying removes nutrients
8. Soil degradation
9. Profitable alternatives
10. Cheap winter-feeding strategies

Learn more at Why Should I Quit Making Hay. Remember to visit nchayfinder.com to locate potential sources for purchasing hay. Find someone that you can trust, and get an established contract with them. If they haven't tested their hay, you can learn more about doing that at Forage Hay Testing.