News

Slight decrease in U.S. hay production

U.S. hay production declined slightly from 2019 to 2020 because of a decrease in planted area and a lower yield.

Production for all types of hay was 126.812 million tons, 2.052 million less than the previous year, with an average yield of 2.43 tons per acre, down 0.03, and harvested area of 52.2 million acres, a decrease of 187,000 on the year.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures accounted for 53.067 million tons of the annual total, compared to 54.875 million a year ago, with other types making up the remaining 73.745 million, compared to 73.989 million last year.

The USDA’s prospective planting estimates are out at the end of March.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: All: 2.677 million tons, compared to 2.76 million in 2019; average yield of 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 million a year ago; harvested area of 1.273 million acres, compared to 1.253 million last year; Alfalfa: 10,000 tons, steady with 2019; average yield of 3.3 tons per acre, compared to 3.2 a year ago; harvested area of 3,000 acres, unchanged from last year; Other: 2.667 million tons, compared to 2.75 million in 2019; average yield of 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; harvested area of 1.27 million acres, compared to 1.25 million last year

Illinois: All: 1.479 million tons, compared to 1.14 million in 2019; average yield of 3.02 tons per acre, compared to 2.71 a year ago; harvested area of 490,000 acres, compared to 420,000 last year; Alfalfa: 858,000 tons, compared to 660,000 in 2019; average yield of 3.9 tons per acre, compared to 3.5 a year ago; harvested area of 220,000 acres, compared to 200,000 last year; Other: 621,000 tons, compared to 440,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.3 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; harvested area of 270,000 acres, compared to 220,000 last year

Indiana: All: 1.282 million tons, compared to 1.29 million in 2019; average yield of 2.56 tons per acre, compared to 2.48 a year ago; harvested area of 500,000 acres, compared to 520,000 last year; Alfalfa: 638,000 tons, compared to 660,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.9 tons per acre, compared to 3 a year ago; harvested area of 220,000 acres, unchanged from last year; Other: 644,000 tons, compared to 630,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.3 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; harvested area of 280,000 acres, compared to 300,000 last year

Iowa: All: 3.697 million tons, compared to 3.116 million in 2019; average yield of 3.19 tons per acre, compared to 3.05 a year ago; harvested area of 1.16 million acres, compared to 1.02 million last year; Alfalfa: 2.905 million tons, compared to 2.38 million in 2019; average yield of 3.5 tons per acre, compared to 3.4 a year ago; harvested area of 830,000 acres, compared to 700,000 last year; Other: 792,000 tons, compared to 736,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.3 tons a year ago; harvested area of 330,000 acres, compared to 320,000 last year

Michigan: All: 2 million tons, compared to 1.858 million in 2019; average yield of 2.56 tons per acre, compared to 2.38 a year ago; harvested area of 780,000 acres, unchanged from last year; Alfalfa: 1.54 million tons, compared to 1.375 million in 2019; average yield of 2.8 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; harvested area of 550,000 acres, unchanged from last year; Other: 460,000 tons, compared to 483,000 in 2019; average yield of 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; harvested area of 230,000 acres, unchanged from last year

Minnesota: All: 3.546 million tons, compared to 2.966 million in 2019; average yield of 2.88 tons per acre, compared to 2.7 a year ago; harvested area of 1.23 million acres, compared to 1.1 million last year; Alfalfa: 2.664 million tons, compared to 2.263 million in 2019; average yield of 3.6 tons per acre, compared to 3.1 a year ago; harvested area of 740,000 acres, compared to 730,000 last year; Other: 882,000 tons, compared to 703,000 in 2019; average yield of 1.8 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 a year ago; harvested area of 490,000 acres, compared to 370,000 last year

Missouri: All: 6.437 million tons, compared to 7.367 million in 2019; average yield of 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.19 a year ago; harvested area of 3.07 million acres, compared to 3.36 million last year; Alfalfa: 594,000 tons, compared to 702,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.7 tons per acre, steady with a year ago; harvested area of 220,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year; Other: 5.843 million tons, compared to 6.665 million in 2019; average yield of 2.05 tons per acre, compared to 2.15 a year ago; harvested area of 2.85 million acres, compared to 3.1 million last year

Nebraska: All: 6.37 million tons, compared to 6.085 million in 2019; average yield of 2.32 tons per acre, compared to 2.48 a year ago; harvested area of 2.74 million acres, compared to 2.45 million last year; Alfalfa: 3.268 million tons, compared to 3.61 million in 2019; average yield of 3.8 tons per acre, steady with a year ago; harvested area of 860,000 acres, compared to 950,000 last year; Other: 3.102 million tons, compared to 2.475 million in 2019; average yield of 1.65 tons per acre, steady with a year ago; harvested area of 1.88 million acres, compared to 1.5 million a year ago

Ohio: All: 2.102 million tons, compared to 2.137 million in 2019; average yield of 2.44 tons per acre, compared to 2.32 a year ago; harvested area of 860,000 acres, compared to 920,000 last year; Alfalfa: 870,000 tons, compared to 957,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.9 tons per acre, steady with a year ago; harvested area of 300,000 acres, compared to 330,000 last year; Other: 1.232 million tons, compared to 1.18 million in 2019; average yield of 2.2 tons per acre, compared to 2 a year ago; harvested area of 560,000 acres, compared to 590,000 last year

South Dakota: All: 5.365 million tons, compared to 7.003 million in 2019; average yield of 1.76 tons per acre, compared to 2.09 a year ago; harvested area of 3.05 million acres, compared to 3.35 million last year; Alfalfa: 3.24 million tons, compared to 4.465 million in 2019; average yield 1.8 tons per acre, compared to 2.35 a year ago; harvested area of 1.8 million acres, compared to 1.9 million last year; Other: 2.125 million tons, compared to 2.538 million in 2019; average yield of 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 1.75 a year ago; harvested area of 1.25 million acres, compared to 1.45 million last year

Tennessee: All: 4.14 million tons, compared to 4.073 million in 2019; average yield of 2.37 tons per acre, compared to 2.31 a year ago; harvested area of 1.749 million tons, compared to 1.763 million last year; Alfalfa: 74,000 tons, compared to 48,000 in 2019; average yield of 3.9 tons per acre, compared to 3.7 a year ago; harvested area of 19,000 acres, compared to 13,000 last year; Other: 4.066 million tons, compared to 4.025 million in 2019; average yield of 2.35 tons per acre, compared to 2.3 a year ago; harvested area of 1.73 million acres, compared to 1.75 million last year

Wisconsin: All: 3.483 million tons, compared to 2.784 million in 2019; average yield of 2.54 tons per acre, compared to 2.14 a year ago; harvested area of 1.37 million acres, compared to 1.3 million last year; Alfalfa: 2.688 million tons, compared to 2.112 million in 2019; average yield of 3.2 tons per acre, compared to 2.4 a year ago; harvested area of 840,000 acres, compared to 880,000 last year; Other: 795,000 tons, compared to 672,000 in 2019; average yield of 1.5 tons per acre, compared to 1.6 a year ago; harvested area of 530,000 acres, compared to 420,000 last year