News

Lower hay production cuts into domestic supply

U.S. hay production declined in 2022 because of lower yields and acreage, which has impacted the domestic supply.

The all hay total last year of 112.801 million tons was down 7.395 million on the year, with the average yield slightly lower at 2.28 tons per acre and harvested area falling under 50 million acres.

Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin saw record low harvested area for all types of hay.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixes were reported at 47.958 million tons, 1.287 million under the previous year, also seeing a slight decline in yield with harvested area falling under 15 million acres, including record low alfalfa harvested area in Arkansas and Tennessee.

Other types of hay totaled 64.843 million tons, a drop of 6.108 million, averaging less than 2 tons per acre on fewer than 35 million acres, with all-time lows in harvested acres for Indiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, and Wisconsin also seeing record low production.

The numbers imply at least some influence from drought in parts of the U.S. reducing yield, discouraging planting, or both.

The USDA says hay stocks on December 1st, 2022 were 71.911 million tons, the lowest December 1 total since 1954 and a decrease of 7.105 million on the year due to that lower production and strong demand.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: All: 2.188 million tons, compared to 2.606 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.093 million acres, compared to 1.183 million last year

Alfalfa: 8,000 tons, compared to 10,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 2.8 tons per acre, compared to 3.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 3,000 acres, unchanged from last year

Other: 2.18 million tons, compared to 2.596 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.09 million tons, compared to 1.18 million last year

Stocks: 1.44 million tons, compared to 1.7 million on December 1st, 2021

Illinois: All: 1.424 million tons, compared to 1.586 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.88 tons per acre, compared to 3.14 a year ago; Harvested Area: 495,000 acres, compared to 500,000 last year

Alfalfa: 876,000 tons, compared to 1.088 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.65 tons per acre, compared to 3.75 a year ago; Harvested Area: 240,000 acres, compared to 290,000 last year

Other: 548,000 tons, compared to 483,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 2.15 tons per acre, compared to 2.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 255,000 acres, compared to 210,000 last year

Stocks: 980,000 tons, compared to 950,000 on December 1st, 2021

Indiana: All: 1.586 million tons, compared to 1.558 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.05 tons per acre, compared to 2.89 a year ago; Harvested Area: 520,000 acres, compared to 540,000 last year

Alfalfa: 910,000 tons, compared to 858,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 3.5 tons per acre, compared to 3.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 260,000 acres, unchanged from last year

Other: 676,000 tons, compared to 700,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 2.6 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Record Low Harvested Area: 260,000 acres, compared to 280,000 last year

Stocks: 770,000 tons, compared to 900,000 on December 1st, 2021

Iowa: All: 3.641 million tons, compared to 4.13 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.03 tons per acre, compared to 3.28 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.2 million acres, compared to 1.26 million last year

Alfalfa: 2.701 million tons, compared to 3.185 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.7 tons per acre, compared to 3.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 730,000 acres, compared to 910,000 last year

Other: 940,000 tons, compared to 945,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.7 tons per acre; Harvested Area: 470,000 acres, compared to 350,000 last year

Stocks: 2.48 million tons, compared to 3.12 million on December 1st, 2021

Kansas: All: 5.361 million tons, compared to 5.784 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.05 tons per acre, compared to 2.15 a year ago; Harvested Area: 2.61 million tons, compared to 2.69 million last year

Alfalfa: 2.046 million tons, compared to 2.484 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 3.6 a year ago; Harvested Area: 660,000 acres, compared to 690,000 last year

Other: 3.315 million tons, compared to 3.3 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 1.65 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.95 million acres, compared to 2 million last year

Stocks: 4.1 million tons, compared to 5 million on December 1st, 2021

Michigan: All: 1.893 million tons, compared to 2.173 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.75 a year ago; Harvested Area: 790,000 acres, steady with last year

Alfalfa: 1.456 million tons, compared to 1.736 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.6 tons per acre, compared to 3.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 560,000 acres, steady with last year

Other: 437,000 tons, steady with 2021; Average Yield: 1.9 tons per acre, unchanged from a year ago; Harvested Area: 230,000 acres, steady with last year

Stocks: 980,000 tons, compared to 1.1 million on December 1st, 2021

Minnesota: All: 3.202 million tons, compared to 2.33 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.62 tons per acre, compared to 2.14 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.22 million acres, compared to 1.09 million last year

Alfalfa: 1.984 million tons, compared to 1.742 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.6 a year ago; Harvested Area: 640,000 acres, compared to 670,000 last year

Other: 1.218 million tons, compared to 588,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 1.4 a year ago; Harvested Area: 580,000 acres, compared to 420,000 last year

Stocks: 2.19 million tons, compared to 1.46 million on December 1st, 2021

Missouri: All: 5.828 million tons, compared to 6.532 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.83 tons per acre, compared to 2.08 a year ago; Harvested Area: 3.18 million acres, compared to 3.14 million last year

Alfalfa: 338,000 tons, compared to 732,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 2.6 tons per acre, compared to 3.05 a year ago; Harvested Area: 130,000 acres, compared to 240,000 last year

Other: 5.49 million tons, compared to 5.8 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.8 tons per acre, compared to 2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 3.05 million acres, compared to 2.9 million last year

Stocks: 4.65 million tons, compared to 5.7 million on December 1st, 2021

Nebraska: All: 4.339 million tons, compared to 6.289 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.03 tons per acre, compared to 2.46 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 2.14 million acres, compared to 2.56 million last year

Alfalfa: 2.449 million tons, compared to 3.731 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 4.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 790,000 acres, compared to 910,000 last year

Other: 1.89 million tons, compared to 2.558 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.4 tons per acre, compared to 1.55 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 1.35 million acres, compared to 1.65 million last year

Stocks: Record Low 3 million tons, compared to 4.65 million on December 1st, 2021

Ohio: All: 2.243 million tons, compared to 2.355 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.7 tons per acre, compared to 2.71 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 830,000 acres, compared to 870,000 last year

Alfalfa: 868,000 tons, compared to 930,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, unchanged from a year ago; Harvested Area: 280,000 acres, compared to 300,000 last year

Other: 1.375 million tons, compared to 1.425 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.5 tons per acre, unchanged from a year ago; Harvested Area: 550,000 acres, compared to 570,000 last year

Stocks: 1.35 million tons, compared to 1.4 million on December 1st, 2021

South Dakota: All: 4.56 million tons, compared to 3.105 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.11 tons per acre, compared to 2.36 a year ago; Harvested Area: 2.95 million acres, compared to 2.4 million last year

Alfalfa: 2.805 million tons, compared to 1.95 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 1.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.65 million acres, compared to 1.3 million last year

Other: 1.755 million tons, compared to 1.155 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.35 tons per acre, compared to 1.05 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.3 million acres, compared to 1.1 million last year

Stocks: 4.35 million tons, compared to 3.3 million on December 1st, 2021

Tennessee: All: 3.607 million tons, compared to 4.029 million in 2021; Average Yield: 1.55 tons per acre, compared to 1.29 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.712 million acres, compared to 1.705 million last year

Alfalfa: 37,000 tons, compared to 57,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 3.8 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 12,000 acres, compared to 15,000 last year

Other: 3.57 million tons, compared to 3.972 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.35 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.7 million acres, compared to 1.69 million last year

Stocks: 2.68 million tons, compared to 3 million on December 1st, 2021

Wisconsin: All: 2.99 million tons, compared to 3.52 million in 2021; Average Yield: 2.72 tons per acre, compared to 2.86 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 1.1 million acres, compared to 1.23 million last year

Alfalfa: 2.48 million tons, compared to 2.912 million in 2021; Average Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 3.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 800,000 acres, compared to 910,000 last year

Other: Record Low 510,000 tons, compared to 608,000 in 2021; Average Yield: 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 a year ago; Harvested Area: Record Low 300,000 acres, compared to 320,000 last year

Stocks: 2.165 million tons, compared to 2.105 million on December 1st, 2021

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!