Modest Gain in Hay Stocks

WASHINGTON - May 12/09 - SNS -- All hay stored on U.S. farms May 1, 2009 totaled 22.1 million tons, up 2% from a year ago, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Disappearance from December 1, 2008-May 1, 2009 totaled 81.6 million tons, compared with 82.5 million tons for the same period a year ago.

Hay stocks decreased from last year across most of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain States. Texas and Oklahoma had the largest decreases due in part to lower hay production in 2008. In addition, dry weather last fall and winter resulted in poor pasture conditions which increased supplemental hay feeding. Hay stocks in North Dakota and Montana were down 44 and 42%, respectively, due to a combination of lower production and spring snow storms that prolonged the hay feeding season.

Meanwhile, in the eastern United States, higher production, milder winter weather, increased precipitation, and lower cattle inventories contributed to higher hay stocks on May 1. The largest increase was shown in Tennessee where stocks were 157% higher than a year earlier. Other notable increases where shown in Alabama and Kentucky, both up 150% from May 2008. Stocks in the western United States were also higher than a year ago as lower demand was noted in California, Oregon, and Washington.

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