Dakota Hay Co-op finds success in horse market - Newsline - South Dakota Ag Producer Ventures - Brief Article

Rural Cooperatives, July-August, 2003 by Patrick Duffey

South Dakota Ag Producer Ventures (SDAPV), near Meckling, S.D., a value-added cooperative formed by South Dakota farmers and ranchers two years ago, is showing early signs of success. South Dakota is the largest forage-producing state in the nation, so the cooperative is working to expand markets for its hay.

The cooperative's upper plains production territory is well suited to growing Dakota Premium Hay, which it is selling as feed for horses in areas of Texas, Florida, Missouri and Colorado. Small bales of alfalfa and other grasses are sold for $5 each and are proving popular with horse nutritionists who want an orchard- or timothy-grass mixture. Both grasses are plentiful in the eastern part of the state. Major horse breeders are expressing interest. SDAPV is eyeing a national market of 7 million horses.