✓Reviewed by Ann Pruitt, InfoHorse.com·Updated April 2026
Green Meadows Forage chopped Grass Forage made from timothy and orchard grasses for horses
Green Meadows Forage Are you looking for the best Hay Replacement or Packaged Forage for your horse? Green Meadow’s Forage is the answer! Green Meadows Forage is a family owned farm that knows that quality forage starts with a passion to be the best.
Who Is Green Meadows Forage?
Green Meadows Forage has a 5 generation foundation of excellence in the bagged hay industry! On the foothills overlooking the Missouri River basin our family settled near a small town in south eastern South Dakota and we have been farming and producing forage here for 5 generations. Agriculture has seen a number of changes over the decades, but one thing has always remained the same; our family's commitment to provide only premium quality forages for our customers.
Is It True That Green Meadows Forage Is Grown In The Soil Rich Lands of South Dakota?
If there is a better place in the world to grow premium forage for Green Meadows value added products, we challenge you to find it. South Dakota is unlike anywhere in the world when it comes to quality land, clean environment and the highest ethical standards. Growing quality forage starts with a passion to be the best. Adding in superior plant genetics, unique processing, and packaging gives you the ingredients for Green Meadows Forage value added forage products.
Note: The Dakota prairie is resilient and bountiful. The sandy loam soil found here is nature's recipe for the most naturally nutritious forage.
So How Do I Know That My Bag Is Fresh?
To guarantee freshness in every bag, Green Meadows Forage controls every step from the processing to packaging. Only the highest quality forages and ingredients are used to make Green Meadows Forage products more than just hay. We have created the best value added forage products in the industry today. Horse owners who use our products, can depend upon consistent quality, freshness and the maximum nutritional value in every bag.
What Bagged Hay Forage Options Does Green Meadows Forage Offer?
Equal Balance: This is a LOW Starch (10% or Less NSC) that is highly digestible with high energy, high fiber for horses that are overweight, Cushings or Insulin Resistent. Combination of Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass, Soybean Hulls, Vegetable Oil, Dried Brewers Yeast, Vitamins A, D3 and E. Ultra-low NSC complete forage formulated to meet the nutritional needs of metabolically-challenged horsesEqual Balance is a Complete Hay Replacement that you feed at 1.5% of body weight (about 15 pounds on a 1000 pound horse)… . 9% Protein, 6% Fat and 30% Crude Fiber. Comes in 50 pound bags
Alfalfa: Our high-protein processed alfalfa is suitable for all classes of horses. This is also a Complete Hay Replacement—feed at a minimum rate of 1.5% of body weight (15 lbs. on a 1000 lb. horse) per day. 15% Protein, 2% Fat and 30% Crude Fiber. Comes in 50 pound bags
Grass Hay: A lower protein, processed blend of timothy and orchard grass forage for all classes of horses. Highly digestible with sufficient energy for horses with low energy requirements such as mature, idle horses. Complete hay replacement—feed at a minimum rate of 1.5% of body weight (15 lbs. on a 1000 lb. horse) per day. 8% Protein, 2% Fat and 30% Crude Fiber— Comes in 50 pound bags.
Timothy/ Alfalfa Blend: A moderate-protein processed blend of timothy and alfalfa forage for all classes of horses. Highly digestible with sufficient energy for mature horses with normal energy requirements and moderate activity levels such as trail and pleasure riding. Complete hay replacement—feed at a minimum rate of 1.5% of body weight (15 lbs. on a 1000 lb. horse) per day. Protein is 11%, Fat 2%, Crude Fiber 30%. Comes in 50 pound bags.
Look For A Local Dealer, Arrange Your Own Dealership or Call Us Today To Order!
With 5 generations of agricultural experience, Green Meadows Forage blends proprietary mixtures of quality forages and special ingredients to create a new forage standard. This new standard will allow our customers to reach their animals maximum expectations. Now that you know our commitment to quality in ever bag why not pick up the phone and let us help you find a dealer— or help you set up a dealership today! Great Hay is just a phone call away! Green Meadows Forage chopped Grass Forage made from timothy and orchard grasses for horses
What does Green Meadows Forage actually put in the bag?
Green Meadows Forage produces sun-cured, chopped packaged forage and pellets grown on the family's own irrigated South Dakota fields. The equine line includes a Grass Forage made from timothy and orchard grasses, a high-protein Alfalfa Forage, a Timothy/Alfalfa blend, plus Alfalfa Pellets and Timothy Pellets. Each chopped forage is aspirated to remove dust and lightly treated with cane molasses and vegetable oil, so what reaches your horse's feeder is clean, palatable, and consistent bag after bag.
Green Meadows Forage high-protein sun-cured Alfalfa Forage for performance horses and lactating maresWho grows it, and why does the location matter? The forage is raised on a family farm on the foothills overlooking the Missouri River basin, near the small town of Gayville in southeastern South Dakota. The Pruitt-era listing notes a five-generation foundation in the bagged hay industry, and the company credits its sandy loam soil, clean environment, and irrigated fields for producing naturally nutritious, weed-conscious forage. Because the same family controls growing, cutting, and bagging, every batch carries the consistency that loose baled hay rarely matches.
Green Meadows Forage Timothy and Alfalfa blend chopped forage for trail and pleasure horsesHow the dust-free, chopped format protects your horse Conventional baled hay can be dusty, inconsistent, and easy for a horse to sort and waste. Green Meadows aspirates each forage to strip dust, then adds a low level of vegetable oil and cane molasses to keep airborne particles down, supporting respiratory comfort for horses prone to heaves or allergies. The chopped texture also slows fast eaters and discourages bolting, and it can be mixed directly with grain to stretch a meal and reduce sorting waste.
Green Meadows Forage Equal Balance ultra-low-starch forage for metabolically challenged horses
Can it really replace hay or pasture entirely?
Yes. Green Meadows Forage is built to replace up to 100% of a horse's hay or pasture requirement. As a complete hay replacement, the chopped forage is fed at roughly 1.5% of body weight per day, about 15 lbs for a 1,000 lb horse; used alongside long-stem hay, the company suggests 0.5 to 1% of body weight, or 5 to 10 lbs daily. The chopped form is fully digestible long-stem forage, so it satisfies the gut-fill and fiber a horse needs without the loss you see at the bottom of a hay net.
Matching the right forage to the right horse
The Grass Forage (8.0% protein min.) suits mature or idle horses, while the Alfalfa Forage (15.0% protein min.) targets performance horses and lactating mares, and the Timothy/Alfalfa blend (11.0% protein min.) fits trail and pleasure horses with normal activity. For metabolically-challenged horses, the Equal Balance formula runs ultra-low starch (4.0% max.) with 6.0% fat, built on timothy, orchard grass, soybean hulls, vegetable oil, dried brewers yeast, and added vitamins A, D3, and E. All chopped forages ship in 50 lb bags; timothy pellets come in 40 lb bags.
How to buy or find a dealer
Green Meadows Forage sells through its online shop and a network of dealers, with a dealer locator available on the site. The farm is located at 31019 450th Ave., Gayville, SD 57031, and can be reached by. Sales representatives include Vince Williams in Williamsburg, IN at and Rick Bye in Gayville, SD.
Who is Green Meadows Forage and where are they located?
Per Green Meadows Forage: the company is a family-owned farm with a 5-generation foundation in the bagged hay industry. Per the company: the farm sits on the foothills overlooking the Missouri River basin in south-eastern South Dakota, where the family has been farming and producing forage for 5 generations. Per Green Meadows Forage: the family's commitment is to provide only premium-quality forages.
Why does Green Meadows say South Dakota soil matters?
Per Green Meadows Forage: South Dakota is described as unmatched for quality land, clean environment, and ethical standards. Per the company: the Dakota prairie is resilient and bountiful, and the sandy loam soil found there is described as nature's recipe for the most naturally nutritious forage. Per Green Meadows: superior plant genetics, unique processing, and packaging combine with the soil to create the value-added forage products.
How do I know the bag is fresh?
Per Green Meadows Forage: the company controls every step from processing to packaging. Per the company: only the highest quality forages and ingredients are used, and horse owners can depend on consistent quality, freshness, and maximum nutritional value in every bag.
What bagged-forage options are available, and what are the formulations?
Per Green Meadows Forage, the bagged-hay options include:
Equal Balance — low starch (10% or less NSC); ultra-low NSC complete forage formulated for metabolically-challenged horses (overweight, Cushing's, Insulin Resistant); blend of Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass, Soybean Hulls, Vegetable Oil, Dried Brewers Yeast, Vitamins A, D3, and E; 9% Protein, 6% Fat, 30% Crude Fiber; 50-pound bags
Alfalfa — high-protein processed alfalfa suitable for all classes of horses; 15% Protein, 2% Fat, 30% Crude Fiber; 50-pound bags
Grass Hay — lower-protein processed blend of timothy and orchard grass; suited for mature, idle horses with low energy requirements; 8% Protein, 2% Fat, 30% Crude Fiber; 50-pound bags
Timothy / Alfalfa Blend — moderate-protein blend for mature horses with normal energy needs (trail and pleasure riding); 11% Protein, 2% Fat, 30% Crude Fiber; 50-pound bags
Per Green Meadows Forage: each is described as a complete hay replacement fed at a minimum rate of 1.5% of body weight per day (about 15 lbs on a 1,000-lb horse).
Is Equal Balance suitable for Cushings or Insulin-Resistant horses?
Per Green Meadows Forage: Equal Balance is described as a low-starch (10% or less NSC), highly digestible forage with high energy and high fiber for horses that are overweight, Cushings, or Insulin Resistant. Per the company: the formulation is described as ultra-low NSC, formulated to meet the nutritional needs of metabolically-challenged horses.
Can I become a Green Meadows dealer?
Per Green Meadows Forage: yes — they will help set up a dealership. Per the company: with 5 generations of agricultural experience, Green Meadows blends proprietary mixtures of quality forages and special ingredients. Per Green Meadows: call to find a local dealer or arrange your own dealership.
How do I order?
Per Green Meadows Forage: Phone 605-661-5745 (contact: Rick Bye), email [email protected], website http://www.greenmeadowsforage.com. Address: 31019 450th Ave, Gayville, South Dakota 57031. Pricing as quoted is subject to change due to economic factors.
What is Green Meadows Forage?
Green Meadows Forage is a family-owned South Dakota farm that grows, sun-cures, chops, and bags premium forage for horses and other livestock. Its equine line includes Grass Forage, Alfalfa Forage, a Timothy/Alfalfa blend, the Equal Balance low-starch formula, plus alfalfa and timothy pellets. The products are designed to serve as a clean, dust-free hay replacement or supplement.
Is Green Meadows Forage a family business?
Yes. The InfoHorse listing describes a five-generation foundation of excellence in the bagged hay industry. The farm sits on the foothills overlooking the Missouri River basin near Gayville in southeastern South Dakota, where the family has maintained a commitment to premium-quality forage through decades of change in agriculture.
Where is Green Meadows Forage grown and located?
The farm is located at 31019 450th Ave., Gayville, SD 57031. The company emphasizes that South Dakota's sandy loam soil, clean environment, and irrigated fields create naturally nutritious forage. Because the family controls growing, cutting, and bagging, the product stays consistent from one bag to the next.
Can Green Meadows Forage replace hay or pasture completely?
Yes. The chopped forage is built to replace up to 100% of a horse's hay or pasture requirement. As a complete hay replacement it is fed at about 1.5% of body weight per day, while as a supplement to long-stem hay it is fed at roughly 0.5 to 1% of body weight daily.
How much Green Meadows Forage should I feed my horse?
For a 1,000 lb horse used as a complete hay replacement, feed approximately 15 lbs of chopped forage daily, in line with the 1.5% of body weight guideline. As a supplement alongside conventional hay, feed roughly 5 to 10 lbs daily, or 0.5 to 1% of body weight. Always adjust to your horse's condition, workload, and the advice of your veterinarian.
Why is the forage dust-free, and how does that help horses?
Each forage is aspirated to remove dust, and a low level of vegetable oil and cane molasses is added to keep airborne particles down. This makes the product a strong choice for horses prone to heaves, allergies, or respiratory sensitivity. Clean forage means fewer irritants reaching the horse's airways at feeding time.
What is in the Grass Forage product?
Grass Forage is made from timothy and orchard grasses with cane molasses, vegetable oil, and a natural preservative added. It carries a minimum 8.0% protein, 2.0% fat, and a maximum 30.0% fiber. As a lower-protein option, it is well suited to mature or idle horses that don't need the higher energy of alfalfa.
What is the Alfalfa Forage best for?
Alfalfa Forage is a sun-cured, high-protein formulation with a minimum 15.0% protein, 2.0% fat, and maximum 30.0% fiber. It is aimed at performance horses and lactating mares that need extra protein and energy. Like the other chopped products, it is aspirated for dust and treated with cane molasses and vegetable oil.
What is the Timothy/Alfalfa blend for?
The Timothy/Alfalfa Forage is a moderate-protein blend, with a minimum 11.0% protein, 2.0% fat, and maximum 30.0% fiber. It is intended for horses with normal activity levels, such as trail and pleasure riding. It bridges the gap between the lower-protein Grass Forage and the high-protein Alfalfa product.
What makes Equal Balance different from the other forages?
Equal Balance is an ultra-low-starch formula with a maximum 4.0% starch and a minimum 6.0% fat and 9.0% protein, designed for metabolically-challenged horses. Its ingredients include timothy grass, orchard grass, soybean hulls, vegetable oil, dried brewers yeast, and added vitamins A, D3, and E. It is the right pick for horses needing careful starch and sugar management.
What sizes do Green Meadows Forage products come in?
All of the chopped forage products are sold in 50 lb bags, while the timothy pellets come in 40 lb bags. The convenient, mess-free bags reduce the sorting and waste typically seen with baled hay. Packaging in bags also makes storage, handling, and feeding measurement easier than loose bales.
Why choose chopped bagged forage over conventional baled hay?
Chopped bagged forage offers consistent quality, far less feeding waste, and a dust-free product that baled hay rarely delivers. The chopped texture slows fast eaters and helps prevent bolting, and it can be mixed with grain to decrease eating rate. Convenient bags also eliminate much of the sorting and waste you find when horses pick through a bale.
Are molasses and oil safe additives in this forage?
The cane molasses and vegetable oil are added at a low level specifically to eliminate dust and improve palatability, supporting respiratory comfort. For horses that must avoid added sugars, the Equal Balance formula is the molasses-conscious, ultra-low-starch option capped at 4.0% starch. Owners managing metabolic conditions should match the product to their horse's needs and consult their veterinarian.
How do I buy Green Meadows Forage?
You can order through the company's online shop or buy from a network of dealers, with a dealer locator available on the website. The farm can be reached directly by phone at 605-267-2565. Sales representatives include Vince Williams in Williamsburg, IN at 765-238-0065 and Rick Bye in Gayville, SD at 605-661-5745.
Can Green Meadows Forage be fed to other livestock besides horses?
Yes. Beyond the equine line, the company offers products such as Natural Fill for cattle, goats, and lambs, and Auto Pilot and Photo Finish for swine. These are aimed at show livestock exhibitors looking to enhance animal condition, feed efficiency, and show-ring appearance. The same family-farm forage quality carries across the full product range.
How should I transition my horse onto Green Meadows Forage?
As with any forage change, introduce the product gradually over several days to let your horse's digestive system adjust, blending it with the current hay before increasing the amount. Use the body-weight feeding guidelines, about 1.5% for a full hay replacement or 0.5 to 1% as a supplement, and keep fresh water available at all times. If your horse has metabolic or respiratory concerns, work with your veterinarian to choose the right formula and feeding rate.
