Iowa Hay Acreage Harvested Estimated to Be Down In 2023

According to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Acreage report the total dry hay expected to be harvested for 2023 in Iowa is estimated at 1.05 million acres, down 150,000 acres from last year and down 20,000 acres from the March intentions. Alfalfa harvested acreage is estimated at 730,000 acres and other hay harvested acreage is estimated at 320,000 acres.

Oats planted acreage is estimated at 185,000 acres, up 55,000 acres from last year but down 15,000 acres from the March intentions. Harvested acres for grain is forecast at 45,000 acres.

Monthly Dairy Webinar April 19 to Focus on This Year’s Alfalfa Season

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues on Wednesday, April 19 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This program will focus on this year’s alfalfa season.

Mike Rankin will share what he sees in the hay and alfalfa market plus what things are looking like out in the field.

Continue reading “Monthly Dairy Webinar April 19 to Focus on This Year’s Alfalfa Season”

Monthly Dairy Webinar Mar. 1 to Focus on High Forage Rations That Can Yield High Production

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues on Wednesday, Mar 1 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This program will focus on what does a 70 percent forage ration that results in 100 pounds of milk per day look like.

Continue reading “Monthly Dairy Webinar Mar. 1 to Focus on High Forage Rations That Can Yield High Production”

December Hay Stocks Down 21 Percent From December 21

All hay stored on Iowa farms as of December 1, 2022, was estimated at 2.48 million tons, down 21 percent from December 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Disappearance from May 1, 2022, through December 1, 2022, totaled 1.88 million tons, compared with 1.44 million tons for the same period in 2021.

Hay stocks on farms: All hay stored on United States farms as of December 1, 2022, totaled 71.9 million tons, down 9 percent from December 1, 2021, which is the lowest December 1 stocks since 1954.

Disappearance from May 1, 2022 – December 1, 2022, totaled 57.7 million tons, down 3 percent from the same period in 2021. Record low December 1 hay stock levels were estimated in California, Colorado, and Nebraska.
The complete report can be found on the USDA NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications

Iowa Hay In Storage Up

All hay stored on Iowa farms as of December 1, 2021, was estimated at 3.12 million tons, up 28 percent from
December 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Disappearance from May 1, 2021, through December 1, 2021, totaled 1.44 million tons, compared with 1.78 million tons for the same period in 2020.

All hay stored on United States farms as of December 1, 2021 totaled 79.0 million tons, down 6 percent from
December 1, 2020, which is the third lowest December 1 stocks since 1977. Disappearance from May 1, 2021,
through December 1, 2021, totaled 59.2 million tons, down 6 percent from the same period in 2020.

Making the Most of Your 2021 Alfalfa Crop webinar April 21

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues on Wednesday, April 21 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This month’s webinar will focus on making the most of the 2021 alfalfa crop.

Long-time ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist in Northwest Iowa Joel DeJong will present an outlook for the 2021 alfalfa crop. He will review stand evaluation, fertilizer, and pest threats, as well as discuss how to use Predictive Equations of Alfalfa Quality (PEAQ) to determine when to harvest the highest-quality forage.

“Dairy producers, and all livestock producers really, rely on quality forage to help their herds maximize profits,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “That is why we encourage producers, dairy consultants and related industry reps to attend this webinar.”

As always, there is no fee or registration needed to participate in the monthly dairy webinars. Interested individuals may join the program live at https://iastate.zoom.us/my/dairyteamfredprogram.

For more information, contact Fred Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.

Weekly Hay Auction Report

Iowa hay offerings were tighter this past week and prices were higher even though
the quality was lower.  Supreme alfalfa could only be found in small squares
and that supply, baled last year, was tight.  The supply of large squares was
limited, regardless of the quality of hay.  The end of this week in Iowa was
wet with the forecast for the rest of May also indicating wide spread rain and 
slightly below normal for temperatures.  While this weather pattern may encourage
the growth of pastures, it wrecks havoc in the harvesting of first cutting.
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, May 16, 2019
Receipts:  78 loads    Last Week: 80 loads    Last Year:  59 loads    

 Alfalfa:  Supreme:  Large Squares, 6 loads 205.00-250.00; Large Rounds, 
1 load 187.50. Premium: Large Rounds, 9 loads 170.00-182.50.  
Good:  Large Rounds, 8 loads 155.00-165.00.  
Fair: Large Squares, 1 load 147.50; Large Rounds, 8 loads 130.00-145.00.  

Grass:  Premium:  Large Squares, 1 load 207.50.  Good:  Large Rounds, 
18 loads 150.00-180.00; Large Squares, 1 load 152.50.  Fair: Large 
Rounds, 7 loads 130.00-147.50; Large Squares, 5 loads 135.00-140.00.  
Utility: Large Rounds, 2 loads 125.00.

Alfalfa / Grass Mix:  Good: Large Rounds, 2 loads 147.50-155.00.

Straw:  Large Squares, 2 loads 155.00-162.50; Large Rounds, 1 load 
120.00.

Cornstalks:  Large Rounds, 7 load 40.00-47.50.

Weekly Hay Auction Report

Hay and straw were more available this past week in Iowa, but the majority 
of it was lower quality.  Some of the offerings may have been stored for an
extended period of time.  Prices continue to edge higher as end users continue 
scramble for both hay and straw to get them through a wetter and cooler spring.
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Monday, Apr 29, 2019

Receipts:  23 loads    Last Week:  35 loads    Year Ago:  26 loads
  
*** This will be the last Rock Valley Monday Hay Auction Report until
    Rock Valley reopens Monday Hay Auctions again in November 2019.***

Alfalfa:  Good: Large Rounds, 1 load 162.50.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 5 
loads 140.00-155.00.  Utility:  Large Rounds, 3 loads 125.00.

Grass:  Premium:  Small Squares, 1 load 255.00.  Good:  Large Rounds, 
5 loads 150.00-157.50.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 3 loads 132.50-140.00.  
Utility:  Large Rounds, 3 loads 110.00-120.00.

Alfalfa/Grass Mix:  Good: Large Rounds, 1 load 150.00. 

Straw:  Scarce.

Corn Stalks:  Large Rounds, 1 load 57.50.

Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Monday, Apr 15, 2019

Receipts:  35 loads    Last Week:  16 loads    Year Ago:  14 loads

Alfalfa:  Supreme: Large Rounds, 1 load 235.00.  Premium: Large Squares, 1 load 200.00.  Good: Large Rounds, 4 loads 170.00-180.00.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 5 loads 140.00-162.50; Small Squares, 1 load 165.00.
Utility:  Large Rounds, 3 loads 135.00-137.50.

Grass:  Premium:  Small Squares, 1 load 205.00.  Good:  Large Rounds, 5 loads 150.00-170.00; Small Squares, 1 load 170.00.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 3 loads 132.50-145.00.  Utility:  Large Rounds, 1 loads 115.00.

Alfalfa/Grass Mix:  Good:  Large Squares, 1 load 175.00; Large Rounds 155.00-175.00.

Straw:  Large Squares, 1 load 115.00

Corn Stalks:  Large Rounds, 4 load 45.00-57.50.