With hay and grain prices reaching record highs and unpredictable weather damaging pasture lands, farmers and ranchers nationwide need reliable and affordable feed for their livestock. Due to the unavailability of quality green fodder year-round, milk producers must use extra concentrates to maintain optimal milk production, driving up costs. The scarcity of irrigated lands for fodder production, high labor costs, and small landholdings present significant challenges for dairy farmers.

As cultivable land decreases and natural resources dwindle, sustainable technology becomes crucial for the dairy industry. Feed digestibility significantly improves with hydroponics; for instance, the energy content of barley sprouted in a hydroponic system can increase by up to 125%, and crude protein can more than double compared of the dry seed. Mixing hydroponic fodder with dry roughage is often recommended to ensure proper gut health, especially in ruminant animals.