Alfalfa Output Rising

WASHINGTON - Oct 9/15 - SNS -- U.S. production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2015 is forecast at 63.2 million tons, up 2% from the August forecast and up 3% from 2014, according to the USDA.

Based on October 1 conditions, yield is expected to average 3.45 tons per acre, up 0.06 ton from August and up 0.12 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 18.3 million acres, unchanged from August, but down less than 1% from 2014. Idaho, Nebraska, and Texas are expecting record high yields in 2015.

With the exception of the continuing drought in the far western United States, much of the growing season has been characterized by good moisture. Some Corn Belt States had surplus moisture, which was good for growth, but difficult for cutting and drying in the early part of the hay harvesting season. Later season harvest went smoothly but tended to be lower yielding.

Alfalfa and Alfalfa Mixtures for Hay Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2014 and Forecasted October 1, 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :     Area harvested      :     Yield per acre      :       Production
      State     :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :    2014    :    2015    :    2014    :    2015    :    2014    :    2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :   --- 1,000 acres ---        ------ tons -----        ---- 1,000 tons ---
                :
Arizona ........:      260          260        8.50         8.50         2,210        2,210
California .....:      875          820        6.50         6.50         5,688        5,330
Colorado .......:      740          700        3.40         4.00         2,516        2,800
Idaho ..........:    1,090        1,030        3.90         4.40         4,251        4,532
Illinois .......:      270          300        4.00         3.70         1,080        1,110
Indiana ........:      240          240        4.00         3.90           960          936
Iowa ...........:      810          820        3.60         3.60         2,916        2,952
Kansas .........:      600          650        3.80         3.80         2,280        2,470
Kentucky .......:      165          175        3.40         3.50           561          613
Michigan .......:      640          700        2.90         3.40         1,856        2,380
                :
Minnesota ......:    1,100        1,050        2.90         3.00         3,190        3,150
Missouri .......:      280          210        2.50         2.90           700          609
Montana ........:    1,850        1,900        2.10         2.00         3,885        3,800
Nebraska .......:      830          800        4.10         4.20         3,403        3,360
Nevada .........:      280          240        4.20         4.30         1,176        1,032
New Mexico .....:      210          220        4.80         5.00         1,008        1,100
New York .......:      290          360        2.60         2.50           754          900
North Dakota ...:    1,650        1,600        2.10         1.90         3,465        3,040
Ohio ...........:      310          260        3.50         3.30         1,085          858
Oklahoma .......:      290          260        2.90         3.90           841        1,014
                :
Oregon .........:      350          370        4.40         4.60         1,540        1,702
Pennsylvania ...:      350          360        2.80         2.70           980          972
South Dakota ...:    1,900        1,900        2.30         2.40         4,370        4,560
Texas ..........:      140          140        4.40         5.70           616          798
Utah ...........:      520          510        3.90         4.20         2,028        2,142
Virginia .......:       75           80        3.40         3.00           255          240
Washington .....:      420          420        4.70         5.00         1,974        2,100
Wisconsin ......:    1,250        1,300        3.30         3.50         4,125        4,550
Wyoming ........:      490          490        2.60         3.00         1,274        1,470
                :
Other States 1/ :      170          172        2.70         2.81           459          484
                :
United States ..:   18,445       18,337        3.33         3.45        61,446       63,214
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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."