Modest Rise in Hay Area Planned

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/09 - SNS -- Hay producers intend to harvest 60.2 million acres of all hay in 2009, up slightly from 2008, according to the USDA's preliminary seeded estimates for the year.

Expected harvested area of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, at 21.0 million acres, is up 2,000 acres from 2008. From the Great Plains and west, harvested area of alfalfa is expected to increase or remain unchanged from last year in all States except New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.

However, the increases out west are nearly offset by scattered declines throughout the eastern U.S. The largest decreases are expected in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, all down 100,000 acres or more from last year.

Expected area for harvest of all other types of hay totals 39.2 million acres, up slightly from 2008. Compared with last year, area harvested for all other types of hay is expected to increase by 100,000 acres or more in Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. However, large decreases of 200,000 acres or more are expected in Kentucky, Missouri, and North Dakota.

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