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USDA sees bigger hay crop in 2024

The USDA is projecting a bigger domestic hay crop in 2024.

Total hay production is estimated at 74.45 million tons, up 8% from 2023 with an improved yield of 2.07 tons per acre thanks to generally better weather canceling out a decline in harvested area to 35.904 million acres. The 2023 crop totaled 68.853 million tons with an average yield of 1.85 tons per acre on harvested area of 37.187 million acres.

That total includes 52.369 million tons of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, an increase of 5% on the year, also with improved yields against lower harvested area, at 3.35 tons per acre and 15.627 million acres, respectively. Last year, alfalfa and alfalfa mixture production was 49.916 million tons with an average yield of 3.19 tons per acre on 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: 650,000 tons, compared to 483,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.5 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 260,000 acres, compared to 230,000 last year

Alfalfa and Mixtures: 880,000 tons, compared to 684,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 4 tons per acre, compared to 3.8 a year ago; Harvested Area: 220,000 acres, compared to 180,000 last yar

Indiana: All Other Hay: 621,000 tons, compared to 598,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.3 tons per acre, unchanged from a year ago; Harvested Area: 270,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Alfalfa and 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: 768,000 tons, compared to 546,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 320,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Alfalfa and Mixtures: 2.808 million tons, compared to 2.4 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.9 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: 3.028 million tons, compared to 2.781 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.75 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 Mixtures: 1.647 million tons, compared to 2.242 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.7 tons per acre, compared to 3.05 a year ago; Harvested Area: 610,000 acres, compared to 735,000 last year

Kentucky: All Other Hay: 4.466 million tons, compared to 4.158 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.2 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 Mixtures: 272,000 tons, compared to 270,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 3.4 tons per acre, compared to 3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 80,000 acres, compared to 90,000 last year

Michigan: All Other Hay: 552,000 tons, compared to 391,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 1.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 230,000 acres, steady with last year

Alfalfa and Mixtures: 1.815 million tons, compared to 1.375 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.3 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 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: 5.805 million tons, compared to 4.38 million in 2023; Average Yield: RECORD 2.15 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 Mixtures: 759,000 tons, compared to 451,000 in 2023; Average Yield: 3.3 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: 2.788 million tons, compared to 2.44 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.7 tons per acre, unchanged from a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.64 million acres, compared to 1.435 million last year

Alfalfa and Mixtures: 3.627 million tons, compared to 2.89 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.9 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: 1.352 million tons, compared to 1.3 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.6 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 520,000 acres, steady with last year

Alfalfa and Mixtures: 1.073 million tons, compared to 1.131 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.7 tons per acre, compared to 3.9 a year ago; Harvested Area: 290,000 acres, steady with last year

South Dakota: All Other Hay: 2.275 million tons, compared to 2.151 million in 2023; Average Yield: 1.75 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 Mixtures: 3.96 million tons, compared to 3.972 million in 2023; Average Yield: 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.35 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.65 million acres, 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 acres, compared to 390,000 last year

Alfalfa and Mixtures: 2.48 million tons, compared to 1.728 million in 2023; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 800,000 acres, compared to 640,000 last year