Hay Market Reports

The biggest question emerging from the 2019 forage growing season in many parts of the country concerns quality, whether it’s dry hay, haylage or corn silage. Plentiful supplies of lower-quality forage are pressuring prices, but buyers seem willing to pay for quality – if they can find it.

While growing season weather’s impact on yield and quality test scores is a primary standard, school is still out on a few extracurriculars – like tariff wars and a dairy recovery – yet to determine hay markets entering autumn.

With spring planting either delayed or prevented, the USDA’s Crop Acreage report left plenty of questions yet to be answered in 2019. One thing we did learn from the report was that U.S. hay acreage could be at its lowest in 111 years.

The cool, extremely wet spring lingered into early June, putting planting season well behind schedule and delaying hay growers from taking a first cutting.

A wet, cool spring, dairy’s slow climb to better milk prices and trade war rhetoric continue to try the patience of many hay growers and marketers.

Many variables remain, but the USDA’s initial estimate of 2019 acreage devoted to major crops indicates little change in the area harvested for dry hay compared to a year ago.