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Hay Kings

Want to reconnect to agriculture? Just starting a farm? Been farming awhile? Come with us as we explore what a modern farmer is. Sponsored by Krone - Dedicated to Hay and Forage Producers.

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Hay Kings: No Bull (Episode 110)

🎧 Episode 110 of the Hay Kings Podcast 📲 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts Jon Paul Driver sits down with Jacob Cummins of White Pine Flats Farms to talk about an unexpected return to dairying—not with 100 cows, but with two. What started as a way for Jacob's kids to show dairy cattle has grown into a licensed micro dairy selling raw milk directly to consumers. Along the way, Jacob shares…

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Hay Kings: Farming on the Canadian Fence Line (Episode 109)

Is your farm's productivity being capped by outdated machinery, or are you ready to optimize every single acre this season? Jon Paul Driver sits down with good friend and industry insider Mike Leaden for a candid, behind-the-scenes chat on what it really takes to stay ahead in the modern forage industry. They break down: 🤝 Peer-to-Peer Wisdom: Why the best insights don't always come from a…

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Hay Kings: Three Lies Farmers Tell Themselves (Episode 108)

Is your operation being driven by real data, or are you just telling yourself comfortable lies in the farm office? Jon Paul Driver sits down with Jeff Jackson for a candid, zero-nonsense look at stripping the "black magic" out of farm business management and record keeping. They break down: 🛑 The 3 Financial Lies: Why managing by your checking account balance, relying on distorted tax records, or…

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Hay Kings: Policy Parity & The 95% Succession with Mike Stefan (Episode 107)

Is the hay industry better off as a "free market microcosm," or does the lack of ARC/PLC support put producers at a disadvantage? Jon Paul Driver sits down with Mike and Ryan Stefan of Stefan Hay Company for a candid look at policy parity and a radical approach to farm succession. They break down: ⚖️ The Policy Balance: A neutral look at the hay vs. row crop divide. They weigh the benefits of a…

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Hay Kings: The Domestic Pivot & The Consistency Challenge (Episode 106)

With the export market cooling off, hay is staying home—but are producers ready for the domestic shift? Jon Paul Driver welcomes back Cosmos Fitzpatrick for a boots-on-the-ground look at the 2026 domestic hay landscape. From the "Yellowstone effect" in the equine industry to the high-tech hay drying barns of the Northeast, they break down why "business as usual" won't cut it in this cycle. They…

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Hay Kings: Intellectual Honesty - Navigating the 2026 Market Reset (Episode 105)

🎧 Episode 105: The $600 Million Inventory Bloodbath 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…

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Hay Kings: East Coast Dynamics – OCD, Logistics, and Market Maturity with Stefan Hay Company (S9:E4)

A multi-generational farm survival story isn’t just about hard work—it’s about market evolution. On the Hay Kings podcast, Mike Stefan of Stefan Hay Company joins Jon Paul Driver to explain how he transitioned from a school teacher to a premier forage producer by treating the "East Coast/West Coast" divide as an opportunity. From leveraging his "OCD" to dominate the high-stakes show-cow market to…

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Hay Kings: Hay Exports - Reckoning and Renewal (S9:E3)

The Anderson Chapter 11 filing isn’t an isolated failure—it’s a signal. On the Hay Kings podcast, Don Schilling explains why years of distorted market signals, excess press capacity, and non-profit-driven capital reshaped the hay export industry. This episode is required listening for growers, exporters, lenders, and anyone paid by the ton. Hosted by Jon Paul Driver Sponsored by Krone - Dedicated…

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Hay Kings: HayCon to Hay Exports (S9:E2)

🎧 Episode 102 of the Hay Kings Podcast 📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app Jon Paul Driver sits down with Jesse Bounds to talk about what’s next for the hay industry — from HayCon 2025 in Las Vegas to pivoting through low prices, export disruptions, and changing markets. They cover: 🌾 The vision behind HayCon and how it’s different from a typical trade show 💧…

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Hay Kings: 10 Reasons Not to Make Hay (S9:E1)

🎧 Episode 101 of the Hay Kings Podcast 📲 Stream now on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app 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…

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