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What is the National Hay Association?
The National Hay Association (NHA) is the U.S. national trade association for the hay industry. It is a non-profit funded entirely through membership dues and describes its mission as working within the industry, with federal agencies and with Congress to support hay merchants and the people who depend on hay and straw in commerce. Its motto on the site is “Not for Self, but for All.”
National Hay Association
H3 Who it serves
Its membership spans the hay and forage supply chain rather than one narrow group:
- Hay producers
- Brokers and dealers
- Consumers of forage products
- Businesses that supply products and services to the hay industry
So if you grow hay, trade it, buy it in volume, or sell equipment, testing, transport or other services into the trade, the association is aimed at you.
H3 What it actually does
From the site’s own material, the practical activities include:
- Advocacy and representation — engaging federal agencies and Congress on industry issues.
- Industry information — bi-weekly hay reports and a news and resources section.
- Events and conventions — an annual convention, with event registration opening periodically.
- Member connection — a membership directory (a sample is available online) and an online application to join.
- Governance and recognition — directors, committees, a code of ethics, constitution and by-laws, plus awards such as Haymaker Award winners and Claude Riley Award winners.
- Export focus — a U.S. Forage Export Council operates alongside the NHA.
- Industry support programs — a scholarship program and sponsorship of new members, partly funded by a silent auction at the annual convention.
H3 A concrete example
Say you run a mid-sized hay brokerage and want early warning on regulatory changes affecting forage shipments, plus contacts among exporters. The bi-weekly hay reports and the export council are the parts of the site most relevant to you; the convention is where the relationship-building happens. A smaller producer might get more value from the directory and the news section than from the policy work.
H3 How to decide whether to join
Ask three questions: Do you need representation or intelligence on hay policy and trade? Do you want access to a national network of producers, dealers and buyers? Will you attend the annual convention or use the directory? If most answers are yes, membership is the natural next step.
Next step: browse the NHA site’s About and News & Resources sections, then review the online membership application and the sample directory to judge the fit before committing.
Who can join the National Hay Association and what are the membership benefits?
The National Hay Association is a U.S. trade association for the hay industry, and its membership is designed to cover the whole supply chain rather than just farmers. According to the association’s own description, it represents hay producers, brokers, dealers and consumers of forage products, plus businesses that provide products and services to the hay industry.
Who can join
- Hay producers and growers
- Brokers and dealers
- Consumers of forage products, such as livestock operations that buy hay
- Suppliers and service businesses connected to the hay trade
- People and companies involved in related disciplines and activities
The organisation describes itself as non-profit and funded entirely through membership dues. It also mentions a U.S. Forage Export Council, which suggests relevance for those involved in export-oriented forage trade.
Membership benefits described on the site
- Industry advocacy: the NHA says it works within the industry, with federal agencies and with Congress to create a favourable environment for hay merchants and the people who depend on hay and straw.
- News and market information: the site lists “NHA News & Resources” and “Bi-Weekly Hay Reports,” which are likely most useful to traders and producers who need regular market context.
- Events and conventions: upcoming NHA events are listed, including an Annual Convention. Event registration availability can vary, so check the events page.
- Networking and directory access: the site offers a sample of its Online Membership Directory and a membership application, indicating directory access is part of the member offering.
- Community and recognition: the association maintains award programmes, including Haymaker Award Winners and Claude Riley Award Winners, plus past presidents and honorary members.
- Governance and standards: members can view the code of ethics, constitution and by-laws, directors and committees.
- Scholarship and new-member support: the silent auction supports NHA sponsorship of new members and an NHA Scholarship Program. This is a concrete example of where dues and fundraising go.
Practical takeaway
If you sell hay, broker it, buy it in volume, or supply goods and services to hay businesses, the NHA is aimed at you. The clearest first step is to review the membership application and the sample online directory, then decide whether the bi-weekly reports, advocacy work and convention networking match your business needs. For a small farm selling a few loads locally, the value may be mainly informational; for a broker, dealer or exporter, the advocacy and industry contacts are likely the stronger draw.
How do I donate an item to the NHA annual convention silent auction?
Contact the National Hay Association directly to arrange a silent auction donation for its Annual Convention. The association's site has a "Call for Silent Auction Donations!" notice that asks interested donors to "reach out" for details, but it does not publish a specific donation form, deadline or shipping address on the page. So the practical step is to use the contact route listed on National Hay Association and tell them what you'd like to give.
What the NHA says it wants
According to the site's notice, donations support two things: sponsoring new members (including travel to their first meeting) and the NHA Scholarship Program. It lists these as popular item categories:
- Baskets of local products (honey, jam, syrup)
- Hay antiques
- NHA memorabilia
- Advertising items from member companies
- Baby items
- Homemade or specialty products
- Agricultural products or services
The notice stresses that items "large or small" are welcome, so you don't need a high-value donation to participate.
A sensible approach
If you're a hay producer, equipment dealer or allied business, an item tied to your own operation — a branded product, a service credit or a regional specialty basket — fits the categories above and doubles as low-key promotion among convention attendees. Before committing, ask the NHA contact three things: the donation deadline, whether items are shipped or brought to the convention, and whether they want a description or value estimate for the auction listing. That avoids the common problem of a donation arriving after the auction has been catalogued.
What are the NHA scholarship program and sponsorship opportunities for new members?
The National Hay Association funds two linked initiatives through its annual convention silent auction: sponsoring new members' travel to their first meeting and supporting an NHA Scholarship Program. Both are described on the association's own site, National Hay Association.
How the two initiatives differ
| Initiative | Who it helps | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| New member sponsorship | Incoming members attending a first NHA meeting | Travel costs to that first meeting |
| NHA Scholarship Program | Students/next-generation entrants to the industry | Scholarship support funded by auction proceeds |
What this means in practice
If you run a hay brokerage, farm supply business or forage operation and have been curious about NHA but put off by the cost of attending a convention, the new-member sponsorship is the practical entry point: it lowers the barrier to showing up once, where most of the relationship-building in a trade association actually happens. The scholarship side suits producers or allied businesses who want their auction donation to go toward workforce and education rather than general operations.
How to get involved
Donations are solicited ahead of the Annual Convention, and the site lists what tends to sell well: baskets of local products (honey, jam, syrup), hay antiques, NHA memorabilia, member-company advertising items, baby items, homemade or specialty goods, and agricultural products or services. Reach out through the association's contact page to donate or ask questions.
For producers weighing membership, compare the dues against what you'd spend on the convention trip — the sponsorship exists precisely because that gap stops people from attending.
How can I register for upcoming National Hay Association events and conventions?
Event registration on the National Hay Association site is handled through its events area, but it isn't always open. The page currently shows "Event Registration not available - check back soon!" alongside its upcoming events list, so the practical answer is: check the events section first, and if registration isn't live yet, contact the NHA directly before making travel plans.
What to expect on the site
- Upcoming NHA Events lists what's scheduled, with registration links appearing there when available.
- Membership is the main gateway. The site's membership area includes an online application and a sample online membership directory, and members log in to access members-only content.
- The Annual Convention is the flagship gathering. The current call for silent auction donations is tied to it, supporting new-member travel and the NHA Scholarship Program.
- News and resources include bi-weekly hay reports, which are useful for timing a convention trip around market conditions.
A practical registration path
- Open the events section and look for a registration link next to the specific event.
- If registration is closed, use the contact page to ask when it opens and whether it's member-only or open to non-members.
- If you're not yet a member, apply through the online membership application — joining may be the faster route to convention access and directory listings.
- Watch the news and resources area for announcements, since registration openings are often posted there.
Who this suits
Producers, brokers, dealers and forage consumers are the core audience, along with businesses serving the hay trade. If you're a first-time attendee, note that the association funds new members' travel to their first meeting through its silent auction proceeds — worth asking about directly, since eligibility details aren't spelled out on the page.
For comparison, other agricultural trade groups handle registration similarly: American Farm Bureau Federation runs member-focused events, while USDA publishes market and export information that complements the NHA's bi-weekly reports. The NHA's own export arm, the U.S. Forage Export Council, is listed on the site for those with international trade interests.
If you want a concrete next step: email the NHA through its contact page with the event name, your membership status, and whether you need the new-member travel support — that single message resolves most registration uncertainty.
What resources does the NHA provide, such as bi-weekly hay reports and industry news?
The National Hay Association provides member-facing news and market information, with the bi-weekly hay reports being the most clearly identified resource. Its site also points to industry news, event information, photo albums, and a U.S. Forage Export Council section.
What the NHA offers
- Bi-weekly hay reports — listed under NHA News & Resources. These are likely most useful to producers, brokers, dealers and buyers who want a recurring read on hay market conditions rather than one-off news.
- Industry news and resources — a general section for hay-industry updates and reference material.
- Events and convention information — including registration notices and annual convention activity such as the silent auction supporting new-member travel and scholarships.
- Member directory — a sample online membership directory is available, useful for finding producers, brokers, dealers or service providers.
- U.S. Forage Export Council — relevant if your business touches forage exports.
- Organizational and recognition material — directors, committees, code of ethics, constitution and by-laws, award winners, past presidents and photo albums. These matter more for governance, history and networking than for daily market decisions.
Who gets the most value
| Reader | Most useful NHA resources |
|---|---|
| Hay producer or dealer | Bi-weekly hay reports, industry news, events |
| Broker or buyer | Hay reports, member directory, events |
| Exporter or export-focused business | U.S. Forage Export Council, industry news |
| New or prospective member | Membership application, directory sample, convention information |
One practical trade-off: the hay reports and directory are tied to the association's membership structure, so non-members may see less than members. If you mainly need free, occasional industry headlines, the public news and event pages may be enough. If you buy or sell hay regularly, the recurring reports and directory are the resources most likely to justify joining.
A useful next step is to open the NHA News & Resources section and check how recent the bi-weekly hay reports are and whether the sample directory covers your region or product type. For broader context, compare with USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, which publishes official market news, and Hay & Forage Grower, a trade publication covering forage production.
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