activity level . Cows eat slightly more , and sheep and goats eat much less , at two to five pounds per day .
An Economic Engine
Not surprisingly , the economics of hay in the County are significant . Numerous large boarding barns in the County are host to 80 or more horses , some as large as 120 . One horse can eat 200 to 300 square bales per year , and a bale sells for $ 6.00 - $ 10.00 each depending on the type of hay , time of year , and other factors . The managers of these barns report they can spend $ 75,000 or more on hay annually , depending on supply chain issues , which are affected by weather and demand . Laura Groat , General Manager of Wyndham Oaks Farm in Boyds , and Dick Hagen , coowner of Bascule Farm in Poolesville with his wife Julie , both talked about the need to rely on a relationship with a farmer whose hay quality is consistent and delivery is dependable . At Bascule , Hagen has fitted out special attachments to trucks and skid loaders , and built a dedicated building for hay to make unloading efficient and to keep hay fresh . At Wyndham Oaks , receiving a delivery of hay requires an “ all hands on deck ” response from the 10 or more full time employees as it is stacked in various barns to stay dry and accessible . Groat and Hagen , like most large barn managers , have their hay tested regularly to ensure it provides the nutrients their horses need .
As a building boom of new horse barns continues at rapid pace throughout the County , the demand for hay increases with it . Maryland Department of Agriculture is currently conducting an equestrian census with numbers to be released late this year , but some industry insiders estimate at least 5000 horses live in the
County , with the number increasing steadily .
supply side
For farmers , producing hay is much more complicated than just “ make hay while the sun shines ,” although finding a window in the weather is a huge factor in getting a crop of hay cut , dried , baled , and stored . Most producers who grow hay in the County also grow soybeans , corn , wheat , and perhaps barley or sorghum , weaving together a carefully choreographed schedule with various equipment and staff , on land they may own or lease . They spend thousands on fertilizers and fuel , as well as equipment and its maintenance , plus labor and insurance .
Eric Spates grew up at Stoney Castle Farm in Poolesville , and over 30 years has shifted the focus from dairy to crop farming , growing about 270 acres in hay , compared
16 plenty I summer growing 2024