News

USDA sees smaller hay crop

The USDA has the 2020 hay crop as slightly smaller than in 2019, mainly because of a significant decrease in alfalfa.

The total is expected to be 73.590 million tons, down 399,000 on the year, including 51.660 million tons of alfalfa and alfalfa mixes, a year to year drop of 3.215 million tons.

The yield for hay is seen at 2.04 tons per acre, compared to 2.07 a year ago, with alfalfa and mixes averaging 3.16 tons per acre, compared to 3.28 the year before.

Harvested area for hay is pegged at 36.029 million acres, 347,000 above last year, with harvested area for alfalfa and mixes at 16.352 million acres, 391,000 below the year prior.

The USDA’s next set of production numbers is out September 11th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: All Hay: 2.546 million tons, compared to 2.75 million in 2019; average yield of 1.9 tons per acre, compared to 2.2 a year ago; harvested area of 1.34 million acres, compared to 1.25 million last year

Illinois: All Hay: 600,000 tons, compared to 440,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2 a year ago; harvested area of 250,000 acres, compared to 220,000 last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 792,000 tons, compared to 700,000 in 2019; average yield of 3.3 tons per acre, compared to 3.5 a year ago; harvested area of 240,000 acres, compared to 200,000 last year

Indiana: All Hay: 616,000 tons, compared to 630,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.2 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; harvested area of 280,000 acres, compared to 300,000 last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 660,000 tons, unchanged from 2019; average yield of 3 tons per acre, steady with a year ago; harvested area of 220,000 acres, matching last year

Iowa: All Hay: 792,000 tons, compared to 736,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.4 tons per acre, compared to 2.3 a year ago; harvested area of 330,000 acres, compared to 320,000 last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 2.555 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 730,000 acres, compared to 700,000 last year

Michigan: All Hay: 437,000 tons, compared to 483,000 in 2019; average yield of 1.9 tons per acre, compared to 2.1 a year ago; harvested area of 230,000 acres, matching last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 1.155 million tons, compared to 1.375 million in 2019; average yield of 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 2.5 a year ago; harvested area of 550,000 acres, matching last year

Minnesota: All Hay: 576,000 tons, compared to 703,000 in 2019; average yield of 1.6 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 a year ago; harvested area of 360,000 acres, compared to 370,000 last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 1.998 million tons, compared to 2.263 million in 2019; average yield of 2.7 tons per acre, compared to 3.1 a year ago; harvested area of 740,000 acres, compared to 730,000 last year

Missouri: All Hay: 6 million tons, compared to 6.665 million in 2019; average yield of 2 tons per acre, compared to 2.15 a year ago; harvested area of 3 million acres, compared to 3.1 million last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 575,000 tons, compared to 702,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.5 tons per acre, compared to 2.7 a year ago; harvested area of 230,000 acres, compared to 260,000 last year

Nebraska: All Hay: 2.89 million tons, compared to 2.475 million in 2019; average yield of 1.7 tons per acre, compared to 1.65 a year ago; harvested area of 1.7 million acres, compared to 1.5 million last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 3.783 million tons, compared to 3.61 million in 2019; average yield of 3.9 tons per acre, compared to 3.8 a year ago; harvested area of 970,000 acres, compared to 950,000 last year

Ohio: All Hay: 1.044 million tons, compared to 1.18 million in 2019; average yield of 1.8 tons per acre, compared to 2 a year ago; harvested area of 580,000 acres, compared to 590,000 last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 896,000 tons, compared to 957,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.8 tons per acre, compared to 2.9 a year ago; harvested area of 320,000 acres, compared to 330,000 last year

South Dakota: All Hay: 2.7 million tons, compared to 2.538 million in 2019; average yield of 1.8 tons per acre, compared to 1.75 a year ago; harvested area of 1.5 million acres, compared to 1.45 million last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 4.07 million tons, compared to 4.465 million in 2019; average yield of 2.2 tons per acre, compared to 2.35 a year ago; harvested area of 1.85 million tons, compared to 1.9 million last year

Tennessee: All Hay: 4.14 million tons, compared to 4.025 million in 2019; average yield of 2.3 tons per acre, steady with a year ago; harvested area of 1.8 million acres, compared to 1.75 million last year

Wisconsin: All Hay: 693,000 tons, compared to 672,000 in 2019; average yield of 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 1.6 a year ago; harvested area of 330,000 acres, compared to 420,000 last year; Alfalfa & Mixes: 1.924 million tons, compared to 2.112 million in 2019; average yield of 2.6 tons, compared to 2.4 a year ago; harvested area of 740,000 acres, compared to 880,000 last year