Total U.S. Hay Crop Rises

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- All hay production for 2007 is estimated at 150 million tons, up 2% from the October 1 forecast and up 6% from the 2006 total, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) final crop report for 2007.

Area harvested, at 61.6 million acres, is down slightly from the October forecast but up 1% from 2006. The average yield, at 2.44 tons per acre, is up 0.05 ton from October and up 0.10 ton from the previous year.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures production in 2007 is estimated at 72.6 million tons, up slightly from the October 1 forecast and less than 1% above 2006. Harvested area, at 21.7 million acres, is 1% above the October forecast and the previous year. The average yield is 3.35 tons per acre, 0.02 ton below the previous forecast and 0.01 ton below 2006.

All other hay production in 2007 totaled 77.7 million tons, up 3% from the October 1 forecast and up 11% from 2006. Area for harvest, at 40.0 million acres, is down 1% from October but 1% above last year. The average yield is estimated at 1.95 tons per acre, up 0.08 ton from October and up 0.17 ton from last year.

Growers seeded 2.83 million acres of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures during 2007, down 11% from the 2006 seeded area of 3.18 million acres. The largest decrease occurred in Wisconsin, down 130,000 acres from 2006. The new seedings of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures will normally be harvested for the first time in the year following planting.

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