All hay
Production of all dry hay for 2016 was estimated at 135 million tons, up less than 1 percent from the revised 2015 total. Area harvested was estimated at 53.5 million acres, down 2 percent from 2015. The average yield, which was at 2.52 tons per acre, was up 0.05 ton from the previous year.
Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures
Despite improved yields over 2015, alfalfa production was slightly down across the nation due to a reduction in acres harvested. Harvested area, which was at 16.9 million acres, was down 5 percent, while average yield was estimated at 3.45 tons per acre, up 0.13 ton from 2015. Production in 2016 was estimated at 58.3 million tons, down 1 percent from the 2015 total. Record-high yields are estimated in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska. Record-low yields were estimated in New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
All other hay
Production in 2016 totaled 76.5 million tons, up 1 percent from the revised 2015 total. Harvested area, which was at 36.6 million acres, was down 4 percent from the previous year. Average yield was estimated at a record 2.09 tons per acre, up 0.02 ton from the previous year’s record. Record-high yields are estimated in Indiana, Montana and Oregon.
Hay inventories largest since 2010
Even though the overall hay production increase was small, U.S. farms entered winter with the largest hay inventories since 2010.
All hay stored on U.S. farms as of Dec. 1, 2016, totaled 95.8 million tons, up 1 percent from a year ago. Hay “disappearance,” a measure of use, totaled 64.1 million tons for the period of May 1-Dec. 1, 2016. That compares with 64 million tons for the same period a year earlier.
Production impacted by drought had an impact on regional hay inventories.
Those seeing the largest declines in inventories (200,000 tons or more compared with a year earlier) included those with less harvested acreage (Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Missouri and Kentucky), lower yield (Alabama) and a combination of less acreage and lower yield (Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota).
In contrast, those seeing the largest increases (200,000 tons or more compared with a year earlier) included those with more acreage (Arkansas and Kansas), higher yields (Indiana and Wisconsin) and a combination of higher acreage and yields (Montana, Oregon, Texas and Virginia).
Among major dairy states, those seeing the largest declines in inventories were Iowa, South Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. Those seeing the largest increases in inventories were Indiana, Kansas, Oregon, Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin.
New seeding lowest in two decades
Low hay prices may be the reason for reduced new seeding of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures in 2016. At 2.268 million acres, the total is down about 11 percent from 2015 and the lowest acreage devoted to new seeding dating back to at least 1997.
Compared with a year earlier, largest declines in new seeding were in Wisconsin (down 120,000 acres), Michigan (down 35,000 acres), Ohio, Nebraska and Minnesota (each down 30,000 acres) and Idaho (down 25,000 acres).
North Dakota and South Dakota each boosted new seeding acreage by 30,000 acres, with Montana up 20,000 acres.
All forage production down slightly
USDA’s annual Crop Production report also provides a look at other forage production in major states. It covers alfalfa hay harvested as dry hay, all other hay harvested as dry hay, alfalfa haylage and greenchop, and all other haylage and greenchop.
Haylage and greenchop production was converted to 13 percent moisture and combined with dry hay production to derive the total forage production.
The 17-state total for all forage production was 90.7 million tons, down less than 1 percent from a year ago. Of that total, 48.7 million tons were produced from alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures.
The total 2016 all haylage and greenchop production for those states was 32.4 million tons, of which 22.9 million tons were from alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures.
This year’s estimate included 17 states, one less than previous annual estimates, with New Mexico data dropped.
2016 corn silage output down slightly
U.S. corn silage production was estimated at 125.7 million tons for 2016, down about 1 percent from 2015.
Area harvested for silage was estimated at 6.19 million acres, down 1 percent from a year ago.
Based on acreage, largest corn silage producing states in 2016 were Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan.
States with the largest decreases in corn silage acreage compared with 2015 included Wisconsin (down 180,000 acres), California and Minnesota (each down 60,000 acres). Largest increases were in Michigan (up 80,000 acres), South Dakota (up 70,000 acres) and Pennsylvania (up 50,000 acres).
Average yield was estimated at 20.3 tons per acre, down 0.1 ton from 2015 but the third consecutive year above 20 tons per acre. Arizona led all states, which was at 30 tons per acre in 2016.
Sorghum silage down
Sorghum silage production was estimated at 4.17 million tons, down 7 percent from 2015. Area harvested for silage was estimated at 298,000 acres, down 3 percent from the previous year. It represented the smallest harvested area since 2011.
Silage yield averaged 14 tons per acre, down 0.6 ton per acre from 2015.
One footnote: 2016 data for Arizona, the fourth-largest sorghum silage producing state in 2015, was not available. 
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Dave Natzke
- Editor
- Progressive Forage
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