Hay Stocks Plunge in United States

WASHINGTON - May 11/07 - SNS -- All hay stored on U.S. farms May 1, 2007 totaled 15.0 million tons, down 30% from the previous year and the lowest since 1950, according to the USDA.

Disappearance of hay from December 1, 2006 - May 1, 2007, totaled 81.4 million tons, 3% less than the disappearance of 83.9 million tons for the same period a year earlier.

Thirty-eight of the 48 reporting States had lower May 1 hay stocks than a year ago. Hay stocks in most of these States were also below year ago levels on December 1, 2006. Drought conditions during most of 2006 caused deterioration of pastures throughout the Southeast resulting in increased supplemental feeding of hay, reducing the December 1 stocks.

The drought in that area persisted into the winter and spring which also increased the amount of hay fed. Elsewhere, supplemental feeding increased in the central Plains and Midwest due to some harsh mid-winter storms and below normal temperatures in April.

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