News

USDA: hay production down on year

The USDA is projecting a smaller hay crop in 2022.

That is largely due to lower yields caused by drought or near-drought conditions in parts of the Midwest and Plains.

All hay production is expected to total 67.659 million tons, 3.292 million less than 2021, with the average yield of 1.88, cancelling out a rise in harvested area to 36.042 million acres. In 2021, production was 70.951 million tons with an average yield of 2 tons per acre and harvested area of 35.49 million acres.

Alfalfa and mixture production is expected to 49.1 million tons, slightly below a year ago, with a fractional decrease in average yield to 3.17 tons per acre against a slight increase in harvested area at 15.465 million acres. A year ago, production was 49.245 million tons with an average yield of 3.23 tons per acre and harvested area of 15.246 million acres.

The USDA’s next set of production numbers is out September 12^th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: Other: 2.04 million tons, compared to 2.596 million in 2021; Yield: 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.2 million acres, compared to 1.18 million last year

Illinois: Other: 528,000 tons, compared to 483,000 in 2021; Yield: 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 220,000 acres, compared to 210,000 last year; Alfalfa: 1.275 million tons, compared to 1.088 million in 2021; Yield: 4.25 tons per acre, compared to 3.75 a year ago; Harvested Area: 300,000 acres, compared to 290,000 last year

Indiana: Other: 546,000 tons, compared to 700,000 in 2021; Yield: 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 260,000 acres, compared to 280,000 last year; Alfalfa: 812,000 tons, compared to 858,000 in 2021; Yield: 2.9 tons per acre, compared to 3.3 a year ago; Harvested Area: 280,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Iowa: Other: 820,000 tons, compared to 945,000 in 2021; Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.7 a year ago; Harvested Area: 410,000 acres, compared to 350,000 last year; Alfalfa: 2.17 million tons, compared to 3.185 million in 2021; Yield: 3.5 tons per acre, unchanged from a year ago; Harvested Area: 620,000 acres, compared to 910,000 last year

Kansas: Other: 3.1 million tons, compared to 3.3 million in 2021; Yield: 1.55 tons per acre, compared to 1.65 a year ago; Harvested Area: 2 million acres, steady with last year; Alfalfa: 2.38 million tons, compared to 2.484 million in 2021; Yield: 3.4 tons per acre, compared to 3.6 a year ago; Harvested Area: 700,000 acres, compared to 690,000 last year

Michigan: Other: 460,000 tons, compared to 437,000 in 2021; Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 a year ago; Harvested Area: 230,000 acres, steady with last year; Alfalfa: 1.083 million tons, compared to 1.736 million in 2021; Yield: 1.9 tons per acre, compared to 3.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 570,000 acres, compared to 560,000 last year

Minnesota: Other: 954,000 tons, compared to 588,000 in 2021; Yield: 1.8 tons per acre, compared to 1.4 a year ago; Harvested Area: 530,000 acres, compared to 420,000 last year; Alfalfa: 1.943 million tons, compared to 1.742 million in 2021; Yield: 2.9 tons per acre, compared to 2.6 a year ago; Harvested Area: 670,000 acres, steady with last year

Missouri: Other: 4.9 million tons, compared to 5.8 million in 2021; Yield: 1.75 tons per acre, compared to 2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 2.8 million acres, compared to 2.9 million last year; Alfalfa: 420,000 tons, compared to 732,000 last year; Yield: 2 tons per acre, compared to 3.05 a year ago; Harvested Area: 210,000 acres, compared to 240,000 last year

Nebraska: Other: 2.4 million tons, compared to 2.558 million in 2021; Yield: 1.6 tons per acre, compared to 1.55 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.5 million acres, compared to 1.65 million last year; Alfalfa: 2.43 million tons, compared to 3.731 million in 2021; Yield: 3 tons per acre, compared to 4.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 810,000 acres, compared to 910,000 last year

Ohio: All: 1.368 million tons, compared to 1.425 million in 2021; Yield: 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 570,000 acres, steady with last year; Alfalfa: 990,000 tons, compared to 930,000 in 2021; Yield: 3.3 tons per acre, compared to 3.1 a year ago; Harvested Area: 300,000 acres, steady with last year

South Dakota: Other: 2.1 million tons, compared to 1.155 million in 2021; Yield: 1.5 tons per acre, compared to 1.05 million a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.4 million acres, compared to 1.1 million last year; Alfalfa: 3.04 million tons, compared to 1.95 million in 2021; Yield: 1.9 tons per acre, compared to 1.5 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.6 million tons, compared to 1.3 million last year

Tennessee: Other: 3.465 million tons, compared to 3.972 million in 2021; Yield: 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.35 a year ago; Harvested Area: 1.65 million acres, compared to 1.69 million last year

Wisconsin: Other: 784,000 tons, compared to 608,000 in 2021; Yield: 1.6 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 a year ago; Harvested Area: 490,000 acres, compared to 320,000 last year; Alfalfa: 2.759 million tons, compared to 2.912 million in 2021; Yield: 3.1 tons per acre, compared to 3.2 a year ago; Harvested Area: 890,000 acres, compared to 910,000 last year