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From Our Blog
Expert hay tips, horse nutrition guides, and news from Farmers Direct Hay and Feed.
Cubes and pellets are real forage, not grain, and they solve problems baled hay cannot: worn teeth, weighed rations, travel, and storm supply. Here is when to use them, how to soak them, and what they cannot replace.
Rolls are cheaper per pound and squares waste less. Which one actually saves you money depends on how many animals you feed, what equipment you own, and whether you can keep it out of the Florida weather.
Weight runs out before space does. Here is how to work out what your pickup or trailer can legally carry, what our bales actually weigh, and how to strap and cover a load for the drive home.
Feeding several horses gets expensive one bale at a time. Here is how bulk buying works, from container loads to full truckloads, what our free-delivery range covers, and how to keep a big load in good shape.
A hay belly is not the same as a fat horse. Here is what actually causes that low, round gut, why cutting hay is usually the wrong fix, and how better forage, protein, and topline work turn it around.
Horses waste a surprising amount of the hay you pay for. Here is where it goes, how hay nets and slow feeders cut that waste, and how to feed so more of every bale ends up in the horse.
As Florida pastures go dormant and nights cool off, horses lean harder on hay. Here is how to adjust amounts, keep condition on through winter, and plan your hay supply for the cooler months.
Soaking hay lowers sugar for metabolic horses and cuts dust for horses with airway trouble, but it removes a variable amount, so start with a low sugar, lab tested hay. Here is when, why and how to soak, plus Florida heat cautions.
Hard keepers gain weight best on more forage and richer forage: alfalfa, alfalfa mixes and soft orchard grass, backed by cool calories like beet pulp. Here is how to feed a thin horse up safely, starting with a vet check.
Switching your horse's hay too fast can trigger loose manure or even colic. Here is a simple 7 to 14 day plan to transition a horse to new hay safely, plus exactly what to watch at every step.
What western hay is, where ours is grown, the published lab numbers on each variety we stock, and how to buy it by the bale, the load or the container in North Central Florida.
Where to buy peanut hay in North Central Florida, where ours is grown, what the bale actually is, and how pickup, delivery and container orders work from our Williston store.
What orchard grass hay we keep on the floor in Williston, what the current lot tested at, how it compares to timothy, and how to buy it by the bale or by the container.
As horses age, worn teeth and less efficient digestion change what they can eat. Here is how to choose the best hay for senior horses, from soft leafy grass hays to soaked cubes and complete feeds for horses that can no longer chew.
Farmers Direct Hay and Feed runs a nutritional analysis on every field we grow. Here is why hay testing matters, how we sample it, and what a forage analysis can and cannot tell you.
Is peanut hay good for horses? A Williston, FL feed store explains what it is, how it stacks up against alfalfa, and which horses it suits best.
When a storm is in the forecast, hay is the most important thing to have on hand. A Williston hay grower on how much hay and feed to store, how to keep it dry through wind and rain, and what not to feed your horse after a hurricane.
Coastal bermuda is Florida's go-to horse hay. Here's how to buy it smart, lower the colic risk, and know when to upgrade to lab-tested western hay.
Teff grass hay is one of the lowest-sugar forages we stock at Farmers Direct in Williston, FL. Here is who it fits, why the low-sugar profile matters, and why we keep lab results on file for the current lot.
Alfalfa hay for horses carries more myth than most forages. Here is what it actually does nutritionally, who it fits, how much to feed, and how it compares to second cutting and orchard-alfalfa blends.
What the best hay for goats really comes down to: leafy over stemmy, grass for maintenance, legumes like alfalfa and peanut for growth and milk.
A bale is a shape, not a unit. Here is what ours actually weigh, why two bales off the same field come out different, and what to ask before you compare two prices.
An Ocala horse owner's guide to buying hay: how to choose a supplier you can count on, why consistency matters in horse country, what to ask before you order, and how pickup and delivery work from nearby Williston.
Searching for timothy hay near you in Central Florida? A Williston grower on how to judge first cut versus second cut, why the cutting interval controls sugar, what good timothy looks like in the bale, and what it costs delivered near Ocala and Gainesville.
What a bale of hay actually costs in Central Florida, why freight makes Western hay cost more here, and why the cheapest bale on the lot usually costs you more once your horse leaves half of it in the stall.
The belief that alfalfa makes horses hot is one of the most repeated ideas in the horse world, and it does not hold up. A Williston FL grower on where the myth comes from, what alfalfa actually provides, and which horses it fits.
A fifth-generation farmer's field guide to telling good horse hay from bad: what to look for in color, stem, and leaf, how to spot moldy or dusty hay, and why Florida storage is where good hay goes wrong.
Comparing Nevada timothy hay vs Canadian hay for your Central Florida barn? A direct-source supplier's guide to why western hay is consistent, what Canadian compressed bales are (we no longer carry them), and where Florida peanut hay fits in. Western hay tested by field at Equi-Analytical.
Buying hay in Marion, Levy, Alachua, and Citrus counties. The five questions every barn manager should ask any supplier, zone-by-zone delivery pricing, lab-tested forage, and how the order actually arrives at your barn.
How to keep horse hay fresh in Florida. The 4-inch pallet rule, the 60 percent humidity ceiling, and how to know when a stack is heating up.
Calculate exactly how much hay your horse needs daily and monthly. Includes bale counts by horse size and workload, monthly cost estimates, and budget tips.
Complete guide to spring pasture transition, hay selection, and metabolic horse feeding for Central Florida horse owners. Includes a side-by-side nutritional comparison of every hay type we carry.
A comprehensive guide to feeding horses with EMS, Cushing's, and insulin resistance. Covers the 10% NSC rule, best hay choices, soaking protocols, and pasture management.
Learn the real differences between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cut hay. Understand how cutting number affects nutrition, texture, and price, and which is right for your horse.
A complete guide to timothy, alfalfa, orchard grass, teff, and peanut hay. Learn how to match the right hay to your horse's age, workload, and health needs.
Farmers Direct Hay and Feed LLC serves Williston, Ocala, Gainesville, and North Central Florida. Visit us at 21091 NE US Hwy 27, Williston, FL 32696 or call (352) 528-1255.
