Hay Price Calc

Functionality & Mechanism

This agricultural utility application from the University of Minnesota Extension facilitates economical feed purchasing. The tool allows users to compare the true cost of different hay bales by standardizing their prices. Users input the bale type, weight, and price per bale, and the app calculates the corresponding price per ton. This mechanism streamlines cost-benefit analysis for various feed options, though it does not factor in the hay's nutritive value or quality.

Development & Context

• A team at the University of Minnesota Extension developed the app to help horse owners manage feeding strategies amid rising hay prices.
• The news article notes that the tool addresses the common practice of buying hay by the bale, which can obscure the true cost per ton.
• Initially released for iPhones and iPads, the app was also noted by farmers as useful for pricing other feedstuffs like straw and corn stalks.

Intended Use & Scope

This tool is designed for horse owners, hobby farmers, and other livestock managers purchasing baled feed. Its scope is limited to economic comparison; the app does not account for the nutritional quality of the hay. Information on this tool is based on news coverage, not peer-reviewed research.