Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) is enhancing its Agriculture and Ranch Management program and Beef Cattle Show Team with the addition of a new hay barn at the TVCC Ranch, as part of phase two of the Capital Reserve Projects.

“We are committed to providing our programs with the resources they need,” said TVCC President Dr. Jason Morrison. “This hay barn will provide the Agriculture and Ranch Management program the support it needs for the overall health of their award-winning Charolais cows.”

The hay barn will provide a vital resource for hay storage and long-term sustainability, TVCC Instructor of Agriculture and Ranch Management, Ranch Manager; Beef Cattle Show Team Sponsor, and Ag Club Advisor Marc Robinson explained. Proper hay storage is essential for cattle producers. Round bales stored outdoors can experience a minimum loss of 20% per year, leading to significant financial impacts. With the current cost of hay averaging around $75 per bale, this loss adds up quickly.

At TVCC Ranch, maintaining at least 400 bales of hay for a herd of 60 to 100 cows is crucial for winter feeding. Given the unpredictable rainfall patterns, having a year-round hay reserve is a smart and necessary investment. In drought years, hay becomes scarce, costly, and often must be trucked in from other states, further increasing expenses.

“With this hay barn we will be prepared for dry years,” Robinson added. “We’ve had times dealing with drought and unable to find any hay. In 2011, we had to buy hay from the State of Mississippi.”

A hay barn offers numerous benefits to cattle producers by protecting hay from the elements and preserving its nutritional value for years. 30 years from now the hay will hold its protein and nutrition, Robinson noted. A well-structured barn allows for long-term storage and ensures that high-quality feed is available, regardless of weather conditions.

TVCC is committed to providing top-tier equipment to educate Agriculture and Ranch Management students with hands-on, real-world learning experiences.

“I am really happy that Dr. Morrison sees the necessity of adding a hay barn,” said Robinson. “This is going to help our ranch tremendously!