REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Preparing for winter during summer is something many cattle producers must do each year by making hay. This is no different on the Starks' Montana ranch.

Tristan and Shaylyn Stark own S Bar K Cattle and Hay in Baker, Montana, and are participating in DTN's View From the Range series, where DTN will follow a year at the ranch to give readers an inside look at how the ranch operates and cares for its animals.

This segment of the series shows how the Starks prepare for winter feed through their hay crop on the ranch. Just as they wrap up branding and moving cows to grass, it's then time to start making hay. "It really depends on the year and what kind of moisture we've had as to when we get in the hay field," Tristan said.

The Starks generally start by cutting the alfalfa fields first in hopes of getting a second cutting on those fields if the conditions are right. Tristan said they likely won't get that this year due to drought conditions.

"We start by cutting at the south place first. It may not be that far away, but it seems like it's always ready first," Shaylyn added. "After alfalfa, we move to the alfalfa-grass mix fields and straight grass is last."

WEATHER CREATES CHALLENGES

Weather conditions have a major impact on the hay crop. This year, a later freeze caused some damage on young hay plants and in addition to that, the drought hasn't helped recovery of grasses. The Starks do expect to have enough hay for their own needs, but likely won't have enough this year to sell any.

"In 2021, we had a bad drought. We had sold some of our hay and ended up not having enough for our needs," Shaylyn explained. "Since then, we make sure we have two years' worth of hay."

The Starks use self-propelled swathers to cut the hay. After about two days of curing, they will rake the windrows and then bale either with one of two large square balers or a round baler.

Tristan and Shaylyn work with his family when it comes to making hay. They all need the feed for the winter and working together sometimes allows them to get the work done more quickly.

If they do have enough hay to sell some, they always will bale that hay in large square bales as it is easier to haul.

On years with drier conditions, the hay will all get baled more quickly and they will be done by the end of summer. Other years they continue to make hay into the fall months.

"We figure we need about 800 bales of hay for our cows," Shaylyn said. "We will bring all the cattle from the south ranch to the headquarters for part of the winter, which means we have to have enough here for them too."

In the years when hay is plentiful, they will work with a hay broker to sell hay. "The broker will find a buyer and get trucks lined up to haul it. That really makes it easier for selling," said Shaylyn.

FROM FIELD TO FEEDING

Prior to selling and feeding hay, they take samples from each cutting to determine the quality and nutrients present. For the hay they sell, complete test results are provided to buyers. When looking at the hay they plan to feed to their cows, they concentrate mostly on total digestible nutrients and relative feed value results along with the toxins present.

They will often hire a man with a stack truck to haul the hay to the areas they want the hay stacked. While it is an expense, it helps shorten the time they spend collecting bales on the fields and hauling them. The stack trucks are speedy and get hay moved much more quickly than the Starks would with trailers.

Some hay will be wrapped in plastic to make haylage. This protects the hay from the weather elements and keeps the nutrition value higher. Tristan said they can use the hydraulic bale feeder on their trucks to unroll the haylage bales just the same as they do a dry bale.

"The cows especially like the haylage when it's a cold day because it comes out of the plastic warm and has more moisture," Shaylyn said.

"It is also a benefit for the cows since there is moisture in the hay, they won't have to consume as much water," Tristan added.

If large square bales are fed, the twines are cut and hay is flaked off for the cows.

Some fields will be grazed after they are baled depending on the type of grass present, how it recovered and what the moisture status is that year. They don't want to damage the grasses by grazing, but they must have enough summer feed for the herd as well.

Regardless of how the hay is baled and fed, as long as they have quality feed for the winter months, the cows can thrive at S Bar K Cattle and Hay.

Editor's Note: To see previous stories in this series, go to: "Montana Family Shares View From the Range," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Montana Ranchers Weather Challenges to Preserve Ranch Heritage," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Montana Family Follows Winter Weather Care Routine," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Montana Family Keeps Calving Low Labor," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Young Montana Ranchers Making Dream into Reality," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Montana Ranch Family's Branding Traditions,"https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.