Steve Knopp is semi-retired, and serves mostly in an advisory role for his daughter, but there are still plenty of bales of alfalfa to go around.

Knopp began to ease back a couple years ago and his daughter has stepped into growing hay (115 acres) and beans (140 acres) on the property.

The small bales of nutrient rich alfalfa are a good option for horses and for sheep.

Some producers grow grass, which owners will also purchase to feed their horses, so they’ll plant grass seed, combine it and bale the straw and sell it to horse owners.

Knopp is not a fan of grass.

“Some of that protein is really limited after you take the seed out,” he said.

Some varieties of grass have decent protein with the content going up to 13%-15%, while alfalfa on first cutting can have 21%-22% protein and a third cutting can get to 24%-25% protein, which can cause problems.

“But there again, people really got to know what they’re doing to feed a horse a third cutting, because you’ll get a horse fat in a hurry,” Knopp said. 

In excess, the protein in alfalfa can be harmful to a horse’s kidneys, and while too much protein in alfalfa can’t be digested and will come out in the urine and can damage the animal’s lungs, good alfalfa can be fed cheaper than grass, “because you don’t have to feed near as much,” he said.

A 2005 article in the University of Wyoming’s Backyards to Barnyards “Grass Hay, Alfalfa Hay?” says based on leading nutritionists at the university and scientific papers alfalfa is not harmful when fed properly.

“Most alfalfa hay contains a larger concentration of both protein and energy than typical grass hay, therefore alfalfa hay is likely a better buy than grass hay when the two types are priced the same,” the article reads, while noting due to its nutrient density feeding too much to a horse can cause them to founder or develop laminitis — compared to grass hay less is needed for the same nutrients. 

Most of the Knopp hay is put up in the dark for the humidity, Knopp said, as it helps make good bales and leaf retention (the leaves stay attached to the stem.) Some horse owners look for this leaf retention, he said. The protein is in the leaf not the stem and owners prefer the aesthetic. 

The Knopps sell their alfalfa in small bales, which are purchased by horse and sometimes sheep owners. By tonnage Knopp thinks there are more 3x3, 4x4 and round bales in the area and the amount of alfalfa for sale has increased.

At one point Knopp was selling large amounts of his small bale hay, “we were selling all that hay … at one time, we were  putting up 50,000 bales a year and selling it all,” Knopp said.

In the last five years the alfalfa market in the area has experienced some saturation, “It used to be we were the only game in town, and the way we load it, we weigh it, we’ve got certified scales … but that’s what people were looking for, and we guarantee it,” Knopp said.

Alfalfa was once considered more of a secondary crop.

Now landowners are paying more attention to the crop. The price for hay has decreased from $275 to $225 a ton, Knopp said. 

They still have carryover from last year both due to damage and an increase in the number of places consumers can purchase alfalfa.

While this year is looking better, last year, the hay crop experienced significant weather damage on the first and second cuttings, Knopp said.

“If it rains one time and doesn’t go away or and goes away, we’re good. Your hay isn’t hurt,” he said.”

Consistent rain for several days will hurt the hay and cause it to get darker. This year the weather has been, on average, better for growing.

“This kind of weather is ideal to put [hay] down in,” Knopp said, “You have to pay attention obviously, it’ll cure too quick, you just gotta be on the stick, when it’s ready you better be baling.”