Those crop reports from the USDA this week showed that U.S. hay production is up in 2009.
Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 73 million tons, up five percent from last year. The number of alfalfa acres being harvested is about the same as last year, but alfalfa yields are expected to average 3.48 tons per acre in 2009 compared to 3.32 tons per acre last year.
Other hay production is forecast at 79 million tons, up four percent from last year.
USDA reports the average price received by farmers for alfalfa hay for the May through July time period was 129 dollars per ton. That compares to 176 dollars per ton for the same period last year. The agency says with plentiful supplies and lower input costs, farmers should expect lower prices for hay in 2009-2010 in comparison to last year.
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