EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2023

HAYMAKERS
“I like making
hay. A good bale
of hay will always
have a market.”
— DUANE HEADING
he likes producing top quality alfalfa and other
forage crops. The family made the decision to
go organic back in 2016 and haven’t looked
back since.
They directly seeded the initial crop using
Dairyland and Byron Seeds varieties, and
Heading readily admits that first cutting was
awfully weedy. That problem resolved itself as
the alfalfa stand grew in vigor and density. Today,
you walk those same fields and the stand
is dense, uniform and healthy.
Alfalfa is to forage acreage in Eastern Iowa
what corn is to grain production. It dominates
as a hay crop because of a protein content that
exceeds 30 percent when conditions are right.
The crop is literally as old as time, first appearing
in written records in Iran.
It’s known as lucerne in Europe and given a
major role in dairy rations there as well. Producing
a premium big round bale of organic
alfalfa is Duane’s driving vision, and he says
timeliness is everything.
Taking cuttings through the growing season,
and wrapping them for infield storage is an all
hands on deck operation. The Headings try to
limit traffic on the seeding by moving the bales
EASTERN IOWA FARMER PHOTOS / LOWELL CARLSON
SERVING EASTERN IOWA FARMERS AT 2 LOCATIONS!
Give us a
call today.
We’ll be
glad to help!
Delmar Location
502 1/2 Main Street,
Delmar, Iowa
Preston Location
23 N. Mitchell St.,
Preston, Iowa
Nathan Kloft
563-357-4736
Allen Kloft
563-221-3438
Rich Thola
563-357-8586
SERVICES:
• Contracting of
Corn, Beans,
Wheat, Oats
• Cash and
Forward Price
• Target Offer
• HTAs, Basis
• Price Later, NPE
• Minimum Price
• Average Price
• Deferred Payment
• Storage
• Trucking
Main Number:
563-674-4261
www.delmargrain.com
Your friend in the field. ®
WELTER SEED
& HONEY CO.
319-837-6111 • 800-848-7333
West Point, IA
34 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | FALL 2023
www.merschmanseeds.com
eifarmer.com