News

USDA all hay production estimate slightly lower

The USDA has cut its outlook for total 2024 hay production slightly.

All other hay production is currently pegged at 72.871 million tons, 1.669 million less than the August guess due to a slight decline in the monthly yield figure, down 0.4 to 2.03 tons per acre, but still up 4.018 million from 2023 thanks to an overall yield improvement. There was no change to the harvested area guess of 35.904 million acres.

Alafalfa and other mixtures production is estimated at 53.975 million tons, 1.606 million above the last estimate and 4.059 million higher than a year ago on better yields. This year’s yield is seen at 3.45 tons per acre on harvested area of 15.627 million acres.

In 2023, all other hay production was 68.853 million tons with an average yield of 1.85 tons per acre on harvested area of 37.187 million acres, with 49.916 million tons of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures with an average yield of 3.19 tons per acre and harvested area of 15.634 million acres.

Hay supply and demand, quality, and hay prices, are highly regional and can vary widely even within those regions.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: All Other Hay: 2.684 million tons, compared to 2.204 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.2 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.22 million acres, compared to 1.16 million last year

Illinois: All Other Hay: 676,000 tons, compared to 483,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.6 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 260,000 acres, compared to 230,000 last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 825,000 tons, compared to 684,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 3.75 tons per acre, compared to 3.8 a year ago; Harvested Area: 220,000 acres, compared to 180,000 last year

Indiana: All Other Hay: 594,000 tons, compared to 598,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.2 tons per acre, compared to 2.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 270,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 858,000 tons, compared to 675,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 3.3 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 260,000 acres, compared to 270,000 last year

Iowa: All Other Hay: 832,000 tons, compared to 546,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.6 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 320,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 2.952 million tons, compared to 2.4 million in 2023; Average Yield: 4.1 tons per acre, compared to 3.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 720,000 acres, compared to 750,000 last year

Kansas: All Other Hay: 3.201 million tons, compared to 2.781 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.85 tons per acre, compared to 1.35 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.73 million acres, compared to 2.06 million last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 2.379 million tons, compared to 2.242 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.9 tons per acre, compared to 3.05 million a year ago; Harvested Area: 610,000 acres, compared to 735,000 last year

Kentucky: All Other Hay: 5.075 million tons, compared to 4.158 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.5 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 2.03 million acres, compared to 1.98 million last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 264,000 tons, compared to 270,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 3.3 tons per acre, compared to 3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 80,000 acres, compared to 90,000 last year

Michigan: All Other Hay: 529,000 tons, compared to 391,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.3 tons per acre, compared to 1.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 230,000 acres, steady with last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 1.925 million tons, compared to 1.375 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.5 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 550,000 acres, steady with last year

Minnesota: All Other Hay: 1.127 million tons, compared to 574,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.3 tons per acre, compared to 1.4 a year ago; Harvested Area: 490,000 acres, compared to 410,000 last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 2.312 million tons, compared to 1.683 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.55 a year ago; Harvested Area: 680,000 acres, compared to 660,000 last year

Missouri: All Other Hay: 5.4 million tons, compared to 4.38 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 1.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 2.7 million acres, compared to 3.65 million last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 805,000 tons, compared to 451,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 3.5 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 230,000 acres, compared to 205,000 last year

Nebraska: All Other Hay: 2.378 million tons, compared to 2.44 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.45 tons per acre, compared to 1.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.64 million tons, compared to 1.435 million last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 3.72 million tons, compared to 2.89 million in 2023; Average Yield: 4 tons per acre, compared to 3.4 a year ago; Harvested Area: 930,000 acres, compared to 850,000 last year

Ohio: All Other Hay: RECORD LOW 884,000 tons, compared to 1.3 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 520,000 acres, steady with last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 609,000 tons, compared to 1.131 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 3.9 a year ago; Harvested Area: 290,000 acres, steady with last year

South Dakota: All Other Hay: 2.015 million tons, compared to 2.151 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.55 tons per acre, compared to 1.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.3 million acres, compared to 1.265 million last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 4.455 million tons, compared to 3.972 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.7 tons per acre, compared to 2.35 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.65 million tons, compared to 1.69 million last year

Tennessee: All Other Hay: 3.36 million tons, compared to 3.74 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.68 million acres, compared to 1.7 million last year

Wisconsin: All Other Hay: 820,000 tons, compared to 507,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 1.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 410,000 tons, compared to 390,000 last year

Alfalfa and Other Mixtures: 2.56 million tons, compared to 1.728 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.2 tons per acre, compared to 2.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 800,000 acres, compared to 640,000 last year