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Strong hay yields reported across Missouri despite delayed harvest season

The market manager for the Missouri Department of Agriculture says there was a lot of hay made before this latest round of precipitation.  

Tony Hancock says producers took advantage of the dry weather right before Independence Day. “I would doubt there was a piece of operational hay equipment in the state anywhere that wasn’t being used because everywhere you drove, and everybody you talked to was in the hayfield,” he says.   

“The one plus to this hay crop being delayed so much, there’s been a ton of undergrowth with the moisture and the yields seem to be very, very good,” he says.  “Most guys are saying they’re about even with what they were last year. Of course, we’re later in the year.” 

But, he tells Brownfield, quality could be an issue. “Even though we may have full hay piles, once winter comes, guys may not have the best hay to feed,” he says.  “That’s definitely something they need to be concerned about and possibly supplementing some of that hay.” 

According to the USDA’s latest report, pasture conditions throughout the state are rated 77 percent good to excellent.  

AUDIO: Tony Hancock, Missouri Department of Agriculture