Hay Farming

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 111940 for Hay Farming encompasses agricultural operations primarily focused on cultivating, harvesting, and preparing hay for commercial sale. This category includes businesses that grow, cut, dry, bale, and package various types of hay, such as alfalfa, timothy, orchard grass, and mixed grass hay, for livestock feed and other agricultural purposes. Hay farming involves specialized agricultural techniques to produce high-quality forage that meets specific nutritional and moisture content standards for animal consumption.

Federal contract awards under this NAICS code demonstrate a consistent pattern of small business set-aside contracts, predominantly from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Typical contract values range from $20,000 to $762,750, with performance periods spanning 6-12 months. Frequently awarded entities include small businesses like Mcdaniel Farms Inc., Bisonte Industrial USA LLC, and Retterath Cattle Company. These contracts primarily support wild horse and burro feeding programs, national park pack animal operations, and agricultural research facilities. Common delivery locations include research centers in Ames, Iowa, wild horse facilities in Nevada and Wyoming, and national parks across the western United States.

Recent federal contract opportunities continue to emphasize hay procurement for government research, animal management, and livestock support programs. The USDA Agricultural Research Service has multiple solicitations seeking grass and alfalfa hay in various bale sizes for the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa. The Bureau of Land Management has opportunities for large quantities of alfalfa hay (up to 2,000 tons) for wild horse facilities in Wyoming and Nevada. Other opportunities include hay procurement for national parks like Olympic National Park and Marine Corps facilities, with requirements typically specifying detailed quality standards such as protein content, relative feed value, and certification as weed-free. Most opportunities are set aside for small businesses and utilize Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation methodologies.