A number of resources are available concerning forage economics. The University of Kentucky has a 2005 publication concerning the economics of rotational grazing. It uses a partial budget to address the increased costs of fencing vs improved performance and increased stocking rates. Find this article at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AgEcon/pubs/ext_aec/ext2005-02.pdf.
For beef producers grazing endophyte infected Fescue, the University of Kentucky also has an article discussing the costs involved with replacement at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/AEC%202005-001C.pdf.
An Extension agent from Wisconsin developed a spread sheet to evaluate the economics of the length of an alfalfa stand and looking at a corn silage/alfalfa rotation sequence: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/lengthalfalfa.xls.
There is an Internet hay exchange at: http://www.hayexchange.com/hay.htm.
The National Hay Association was formed in 1895 and has a web site at: http://www.nationalhay.org/.
The University of Missouri has a useful article about “Sizing and Siting Hay Barns” at: http://outreach.missouri.edu/webster/ag-edge/forage/haybarn-size.html.
“Round Bale Hay Storage Economics in Kentucky” is found at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr171/agr171.htm.
“Planning for a Farm Storage Building,” including spread sheets, was developed in Virginia and is found at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/bse/442-760/442-760.html.
A “Constructing Hay Feeding and Storage Pads” fact sheet was developed by Ohio Extension and is found at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/0332.html.
Mike Hutjens, Extension Dairy Specialist, University of Illinois, Urbana wrote an article comparing bag vs bunker vs upright storage systems at: http://www.traill.uiuc.edu/dairynet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=578.
Kansas offers a spread sheet and accompanying article comparing the ownership of a big round vs a big square baler at: http://www.agmanager.info/farmmgt/machinery/OwnBaler2004.pdf.
Ohio has enterprise budgets for forages at: http://aede.osu.edu/Programs/FarmManagement/Budgets/index.htm and custom rate information at: http://aede.osu.edu/Programs/FarmManagement/Budgets/custompage.htm.
This represents a partial list of useful information concerning the economics of forages. For more information contact your local county Extension Educator.