Other Hay Estimate Improves

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/06 - SNS -- Production of hay other than alfalfa is forecast at 72.5 million tons, up 2% from the August forecast but down 3% from 2005, according to the USDA's crop production report.

Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 1.80 tons, up 0.03 ton from the August forecast but down 0.11 ton from last year. Harvested area, at 40.3 million acres, is unchanged from August but up 3% from the previous year.

Improved conditions from the late spring and early summer dryness contributed to yield increases in several States across the U.S. Compared with the previous forecast, growers in fourteen States are expecting higher yields, with Washington, Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado and Pennsylvania showing the largest increase, up 0.3 ton from August.

Meanwhile, a cluster of States in the Ohio Valley and middle Atlantic Coast region are forecast to decrease from August. Virginia and Mississippi showed the largest decrease in yield from the previous forecast, both down 0.5 ton.

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