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Reduction in hay yields puts more pressure on cattle producers

A livestock economist says the decline in hay yields is putting more pressure on the nation’s cattle producers.

University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says hay yields, other than alfalfa, are down more than 8 percent on the year.

He tells Brownfield those declines in yield came from some of the largest cattle producing parts of the country.  “I look at Missouri,” he says.  “Last year we had a hay yield of 1.95 and USDA estimates Missouri hay yield at 1.4 tons per acre this year.  You see the cuts we have in some of these dry areas – Oklahoma, Texas.”

Brown says the hay shortage has a lot of producers talking about moving cattle to market earlier than normal.

But, he cautions against making that decision in haste – because unlike 2012, there are good quality feed alternatives available.  “Not only did we not have hay,” he says.  “But we had very little corn, etc.  If you wanted to talk about more corn in that diet that was a $7+ bushel decision you were making.  Where today it is more like $3.25 or even less in some parts of the country.”