Outdoor Living Hour – Farm Fresh with Arizona Farm Bureau
Join us this Saturday! We’ll be talking about #Alfalfa with Julie Murphree of the AZ Farm Bureau and special guest Trevor Bales of Bales Hay & Feed, a 5th generation Buckeye, Arizona farmer.
Arizona Farm Bureau’s Julie Murphree is joined by Trevor Bales. 6th Generational Farmers of Bales Hay Farm & Ranch Feed Store.
Trevor discusses the family history of farming in Arizona. Including the original homestead on the property.
How they began bailing hay production. Using alfalfa which makes a better quality product. Hay is a big part of Arizona Agriculture.
Hay is the top forage produced product in the county!
Trevor explains why there’s been a supply shortage on alfalfa since its grown here and other places have more acrage to grow it. It had to do with the monsoon rains last year.
Trevor explains the decisions and tricks to get the best quality hay. How other states depend on Arizona hay.
Facts about alfalfa hay!
Discussion of citrus. One of Arizona’s 5 ‘C’s’. Farming citrus predates statehood. Many varieties of citrus from oranges to lemons grown in Arizona.
Arizona provides a big crop of lemons for the country. Used for everything from scents, soaps to baking.
Trevor explains his 20 Year Plan for Bales Hay Farm. Includes enhancing the area for public visits to show farm production as it happens.
Some of the miniature animals on the farm.
The significance of hay besides nutrition for cattle and horses.
Discussion of The Alfalfa Project to save water by using a drip system for direct watering at the base instead of flooding rows.
Trevor talks about the pro and cons of drip irrigation versus flood. The challenges are cost, maintenance and management of the drip system.
The weight of bales. Trevor explains the use of steamers as an alternative to soaking hay.
Outdoor Living Hour – Farm Fresh with Arizona Farm Bureau
Join us this Saturday! We’ll be talking about #Alfalfa with Julie Murphree of the AZ Farm Bureau and special guest Trevor Bales of Bales Hay & Feed, a 5th generation Buckeye, Arizona farmer.