U.S. Expects Modest Hike in Alfalfa Crop
WASHINGTON - Aug 13/15 - SNS -- Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2015 is forecast at 62.1 million tons, up 1% from 2014, according to the latest USDA production forecast for 2015.
Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 3.39 tons per acre, up 0.06 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 18.3 million acres, unchanged from June but down slightly from 2014.
Much of the Nation has received good moisture with the exception of the continuing drought in the far western United States. This has resulted in favorable conditions for growth of the Nation's alfalfa hay crop. However, frequent rain has made harvesting difficult in some locations which has negatively impacted quality. A record yield is expected in Arizona for alfalfa hay.
Alfalfa and Alfalfa Mixtures for Hay Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2014 and Forecasted August 1, 2015
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: Area harvested : Yield : Production
State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015
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: --- 1,000 acres --- ------ tons ------ ---- 1,000 tons ---
:
Arizona ........: 260 260 8.50 9.00 2,210 2,340
California .....: 875 820 6.50 5.50 5,688 4,510
Colorado .......: 740 700 3.40 4.00 2,516 2,800
Idaho ..........: 1,090 1,030 3.90 4.10 4,251 4,223
Illinois .......: 270 300 4.00 3.70 1,080 1,110
Indiana ........: 240 240 4.00 3.50 960 840
Iowa ...........: 810 820 3.60 3.60 2,916 2,952
Kansas .........: 600 650 3.80 4.00 2,280 2,600
Kentucky .......: 165 175 3.40 3.40 561 595
Michigan .......: 640 700 2.90 3.60 1,856 2,520
:
Minnesota ......: 1,100 1,050 2.90 3.20 3,190 3,360
Missouri .......: 280 210 2.50 2.90 700 609
Montana ........: 1,850 1,900 2.10 1.80 3,885 3,420
Nebraska .......: 830 800 4.10 4.00 3,403 3,200
Nevada .........: 280 240 4.20 4.70 1,176 1,128
New Mexico .....: 210 220 4.80 4.70 1,008 1,034
New York .......: 290 360 2.60 2.70 754 972
North Dakota ...: 1,650 1,600 2.10 1.90 3,465 3,040
Ohio ...........: 310 260 3.50 3.20 1,085 832
Oklahoma .......: 290 260 2.90 3.80 841 988
:
Oregon .........: 350 370 4.40 4.50 1,540 1,665
Pennsylvania ...: 350 360 2.80 3.20 980 1,152
South Dakota ...: 1,900 1,900 2.30 2.60 4,370 4,940
Texas ..........: 140 140 4.40 5.00 616 700
Utah ...........: 520 510 3.90 4.20 2,028 2,142
Virginia .......: 75 80 3.40 2.90 255 232
Washington .....: 420 420 4.70 4.60 1,974 1,932
Wisconsin ......: 1,250 1,300 3.30 3.30 4,125 4,290
Wyoming ........: 490 490 2.60 3.00 1,274 1,470
:
Other States 1/ : 170 172 2.70 2.88 459 496
:
United States ..: 18,445 18,337 3.33 3.39 61,446 62,092
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1/ Other States include Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Individual State level estimates will be published in the "Crop Production 2015 Summary."
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