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Weather and pests impact hay production along I-29

A forage specialist with WinField United says variable weather and pests are affecting hay production along the I-29 corridor, an area following the Interstate starting in Kansas City, Missouri stretching to the Canadian border.

Jeff Jackson says in Missouri and eastern Kansas, the first crop of alfalfa looks good in the areas with moisture, but where it’s dry the crop isn’t good. He says cutting is behind the usual pace.

“Simply because of dry conditions and these weird weather patterns we’ve had earlier this spring. That threw off our cutting timing,” he says. “Another impact on yield would also be the alfalfa weevil, which we’re fighting in many environments to stay ahead of the pest.”

Near Iowa and South Dakota, Jackson says the weevil hasn’t been as bad yet and the crop looks alright as producers stay on track with cutting.

“They also know if we don’t get started now, it’s going to mess up our cutting sequence and let’s get another cutting while this moisture lasts.”

Jackson says better weather for the entire I-29 corridor could go a long way for the second cutting of hay.

He tells Brownfield he’s also noticing big demand for hay due to the reoccurring drought and says it could be two years before supplies are widely replenished.