Why HayWise Exists
Hay is one of the most significant recurring expenses on any small farm — and one of the least well-documented topics for the people who actually need the information. University extension publications are written for commercial operations and assume a level of equipment and scale that most small farms don't have. Farm forums have useful information buried under years of threads and disagreements. Generic homesteading content covers hay in a single paragraph between the chicken coop guide and the root cellar tutorial.
HayWise is built for the person with 2 to 50 animals — a retired couple with a few horses, a family running a small goat dairy, a beginning farmer figuring out their first winter. The questions these people search for — "how long does a round bale last for 3 horses," "how much hay does a goat need per day," "how to store round bales outside without a barn" — deserve complete, specific, math-based answers. That's what this site is built to provide.
Our Editorial Approach
Every page on HayWise is built around a specific question that real people search for. We don't write general "hay guide" content — we write pages that fully answer one question: with specific numbers, worked examples, and the details that other sources leave out.
Our standards for every page:
- A specific, answerable question that the page fully resolves
- Genuinely useful information — not padded for length
- At least one concrete detail, local consideration, or procedural step that isn't in the first page of Google results for the target question
- Honest acknowledgment of where expert consultation (veterinarian, extension agent) is needed
- No affiliate links, no sponsored content, no advertising partnerships that influence recommendations
What We Are (and Aren't)
HayWise is an informational resource, not a veterinary or agricultural consulting service. Every page carries a disclaimer because hay feeding decisions for individual animals — especially those with health conditions, in late pregnancy, or with unusual needs — should involve your veterinarian or a certified livestock nutritionist.
The information on this site draws from published university extension research (primarily University of Kentucky, University of Wisconsin, Penn State, and Texas A&M forage programs), published peer-reviewed forage science, and practical small-farm experience. When we cite specific numbers (dry matter loss percentages, crude protein ranges, daily consumption estimates), we're drawing from that published research — not guessing.
Content and Updates
HayWise is updated regularly. Hay prices, forage research, and farming practices evolve. Pages are reviewed annually and updated when published research or significant market changes warrant revision. If you find information that appears outdated or incorrect, please contact us.
Monetization
HayWise is supported by Google AdSense display advertising. Ads are served by Google based on site content and visitor context — we have no control over which specific ads appear. We do not accept sponsored content, affiliate partnerships, or paid placements of any kind. Our recommendations are not influenced by advertisers.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or suggestions: visit our contact page.