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How to Get Better Hay Quality and Tonnage

How to Get Better Hay Quality & Tonnage

Farmers often turn to conventional granular fertilizers, lime, and physical tillage to work on their hay. But these traditional approaches often come with delayed results, poor nutrient uptake, and long-term soil degradation. How can you get better hay quality and tonnage?

More hay producers are shifting toward regenerative liquid fertility programs like AgriTec International’s liquid soil treatments. Liquid foliar feeds and nutrient blends deliver faster, more complete results while preserving long-term health and productivity in your soil.

Liquid Solutions Improve Hay Quality

  1. Faster Nutrient Uptake and Immediate Soil Response

Granular products, especially lime, can take months or even years to become plant-available. That means lost seasons, lost tonnage, and wasted money. AgriTec’s liquid calcium products, like Pro-Cal and Advanced-Cal, are formulated for fast absorption, raising pH and calcium saturation levels in weeks, not months.

  1. Higher Absorption, Less Risk of Burn

Dry products often suffer from poor solubility and volatilization, especially in hot or dry conditions. Our liquid formulations absorb directly through the soil or plant, reducing waste and eliminating the risk of fertilizer burn. The result? Healthier hay quality and more of it.

  1. Improved Soil Health and Regenerative Benefits

Healthy soil is productive soil. AgriTec’s liquid calcium products, Humic Acid, and Bio-Act treatments rebuild organic matter, boost microbial activity, and balance base saturation, all of which are critical for nutrient retention and water-holding capacity.

These regenerative solutions allow hayfields to bounce back year after year, even under stress conditions like drought or flooding.

What Products Improve Hay Quality?

Here’s how to build a cost-efficient, high-performance program for hay quality using AgriTec’s most effective liquid products:

1. Pro-Cal Liquid Calcium

With Pro-Cal, 2 gallons per acre are roughly equivalent to 1 ton of limestone in effectiveness! Before any fertilizer is applied, the soil must be prepared. Pro-Cal delivers bio-available liquid calcium to raise soil pH and calcium base saturation quickly and effectively. Unlike dry lime, Pro-Cal is fully chelated, allowing for immediate plant uptake and long-lasting soil balance.

  • Effect: Raises pH, unlocks nutrients, increases root development

  • Application: Pre-plant or post-cutting, 6-10 gal/acre depending on CEC and calcium saturation 

2. Advanced-Cal Liquid Calcium

Building on the benefits of Pro-Cal, Advanced-Cal adds micro-nutrients, sulfur, carbon, and humic to energize the soil and maximize photosynthesis. This formula improves protein content, root mass, and hay quality and density.

  • Effect: Boosts overall plant health, protein levels, and soil organic matter

  • Application: Pre-plant or post-cutting, 4-10 gal/acre

3. Nitro-Maxx+ Slow-Release Liquid Nitrogen

Nitrogen is essential for hay growth, but conventional nitrogen often burns or dissipates too quickly. Nitro-Maxx+ solves that with a slow-release formula packed with organic matter and carrier agents that keep nitrogen available for up to 60 days.

  • Effect: Promotes lush green growth, boosts regrowth between cuttings

  • Application: 6-10 gal/acre after each cutting or early in the growth cycle

4. Humic Acid 

Low organic matter and sandy soils limit hayfield performance. Humic Acid builds the soil’s carbon base, improves water retention, and supports beneficial microbes, all key to supporting growth through hot, dry spells.

Application: 1-2 quarts/acre before planting or early growth

5. Bio-Act Micronutrient & Humic Acid Blend 

To push production even further, or help hayfields recover after stress, AgriTec’s Bio-Act serves as a foliar “vitamin boost” that is quickly absorbed by the plant and supercharges photosynthesis.

  • Effect: Increases immunity, growth rate, and regrowth speed

Application: 1 quart/acre after cutting, or at early vegetative stage

What Results Have Farmers Seen?

Farmers who’ve transitioned to AgriTec’s liquid programs often report:

  • 1-2 extra tons per acre compared to prior years
  • Thicker, greener, more nutritious hay 
  • Better regrowth between cuttings
  • Lower fertilizer costs thanks to reduced waste and targeted application

Instead of over-applying dry products and hoping for results, liquid systems target exactly what your soil needs, when it needs it.

Why It’s More Cost-Efficient

Factor

Granular Approach

AgriTec Liquid Program

Time to effectiveness

6-12 months

2-3 weeks

Nutrient availability

Delayed and inconsistent

Immediate and 90%+ absorbed

Application waste

High risk of volatilization or tie-up

Low risk, high retention

Reapplication frequency

Often yearly

Every 2-3 years or as-needed

Soil health

Often degrades

Regenerates soil over time

Overall ROI

Moderate

High (cost/ton improved)

With a custom-calculated application based on CEC, calcium levels, and crop goals, you apply exactly what your field needs, no more, no less. You save time, you save inputs, and you maximize yield.

AgriTec’s regenerative liquid program is not just the most effective way to improve hay, it’s the smartest, fastest, and most sustainable. For more information or a free consultation on your hay program, call AgriTec today at 833-247-4832.

Watch AgriTec’s Webinar to Learn More

Want to dive even deeper into hay quality and tonnage? Join us on Demio on September 3rd, 2025 at 4:00 PM as AgriTec’s free webinar goes live!

You’ll hear directly from Nate Barrett, one of AgriTec’s top soil advisors, as he asks questions from farmers and talks about how to transform hayfields using regenerative liquid inputs. Topics include:

  • Proper nutrient balance in hay and pasture 
  • Understanding CEC and organic matter 
  • Applying foliar feeds for peak performance 
  • Real questions from farmers in your region 

Mark your calendar: Sept. 3rd, 2025 4:00 PM CDT

Sign Up on Demio: bit.ly/AgriTecWebinar

Watch Video on Demand: youtube.com/@agritecint/playlists