Hubbardston hay contractor urges single annual payment as fertilizer costs surge

Lance, a local farmer who has bid for and managed the town hayfields, told the Town of Hubbardston Open Space Committee that sharply higher fertilizer prices and unpredictable second-cut yields make the current payment structure unsustainable.

He urged the committee to write future requests for proposals so contractors can bid on a single annual payment rather than separate fees for first and second cuttings. The farmer told members he currently pays $47 per acre under the existing arrangement and estimated commercial fertilizer runs into the thousands of dollars per year for the fields if applied annually.

Why it matters: The town's hayfields cover roughly 47 acres, and maintaining those fields affects open-space value, trail access and neighboring properties. Committee members said they need to reconcile procurement rules, public expectations and the…