The numbers of forage growers producing and marketing organic dry hay and other forages declined between 2019 and 2021, according to latest national survey data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The data, released in December 2022, reverses trends emerging in the 2019 survey, which had shown nearly all categories of organic forage production and marketing had increased from 2016.
The agency’s 2021 Certified Organic Survey collected information on the number of operations harvesting and selling organic forages, acreage harvested, quantity produced and sold and value of sales.
The 2021 USDA survey was conducted among all known U.S. farms with certified organic production, as well as those transitioning into organic production. Producers must meet the standards set out by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s National Organic Program (NOP) and be certified compliant by an approved agent of the program.
Following is a summary of major organic forage categories, including U.S. totals and a list of leading states. When reporting the results, the USDA withholds state data that may disclose information about the operations of an individual farm or business.
National, state data
All dry hay
According to USDA data, 4,554 farms harvested about 1.76 million tons of organic all dry hay from 591,670 acres in 2021. Compared to 2019, farm numbers were down 10%, acreage declined 3%, and production was down 2%. Of farms producing organic dry hay, 2,976 farms reported sales of almost 1.2 million tons, with a total value of almost $222.2 million. With higher prices, sales volume was down 2% from 2019, while the value of those sales was up 16%. The percentage of organic dry hay harvested in 2021 that was sold held steady at about 68%.
Wisconsin led all states in the number of farms harvesting organic dry hay, at 672, and those selling organic dry hay, at 364. New York led all others in harvested area, at 78,866 acres, but Idaho topped volume harvested, at 220,449 tons. As a result, Idaho was the leader in both sales volume and value of sales, at $32.3 million.
Alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay
When looking at alfalfa/alfalfa mixture dry hay, 2,782 farms harvested 1.18 million tons from about 350,000 acres in 2021. Farm and acreage totals were down but production volume was steady compared to 2019. Of farms harvesting alfalfa dry hay, 1,905 reported sales of about 898,350 tons, with a total value of nearly $179.3 million. Sales volume was down 3% from 2019, while the value of those sales was up 16%. The percentage of organic alfalfa and alfalfa mixture hay harvested in 2021 that was sold dipped slightly to 76%, down from 78% in 2019.
Wisconsin also led all states in the number of farms harvesting organic alfalfa and alfalfa mixture hay, at 448, and those selling the crop, at 233.
Idaho was the leader in all remaining alfalfa/alfalfa mixture dry hay categories, outpacing California, including acreage (63,382), harvested volume (210,761 tons), sales volume (157,873 tons) and sales value (just under $31 million).
Other dry hay
For other dry hay, 2,162 farms harvested about 575,000 tons from nearly 242,000 acres in 2021. Farm numbers were down 17%, acreage was down 1%, and volume was down 5% from 2019. Of those farms, 1,324 reported sales of about 292,664 tons, with a total value of more than $42.8 million. The number of farms selling other organic hay was down 10%, with sales volume up 3% and total value up 14%.
New York retained its crown among all states for the number of farms harvesting and selling other organic dry hay, as well as maintaining leadership for acreage, volume and value.
Haylage and greenchop
Trends were similar in organic haylage and greenchop production and sales. In 2021, 1,949 farms harvested almost 1.27 million tons of all haylage/greenchop from 236,300 acres. Of those, 777 farms reported sales of 449,284 tons, valued at more than $53.8 million. Nationally, farms, acreage and tonnage harvested were down 13%, 9% and 7%, respectively. Meanwhile, sale volume was up 9% and value was up 14%. New York was the leader in all six categories for organic haylage and greenchop production and sales.
Total U.S. alfalfa/alfalfa mixture haylage and greenchop area was estimated at about 108,500 acres on 1,048 farms, with a total harvest of 606,300 tons. Farm numbers were down 16%, with acreage and production posting minimal declines. Just under 400 farms reported sales of about 244,500 tons, valued at nearly $32.9 million. So while farm numbers selling alfalfa/alfalfa mixture haylage dropped 9%, sales volume was up 48% and sale value was up 53% compared to 2019. Wisconsin topped all states for organic alfalfa/alfalfa mixture haylage and greenchop, including farms, acreage and harvest volume. New York was the sales leader among farms, but California topped sales volume, and Texas edged California and New York in sales value.
In 2021, 1,064 farms harvested other haylage/greenchop from 127,800 acres, yielding about 660,000 tons. All were down 12% to 15% from 2019. An estimated 417 farms reported sales of almost 205,000 tons, valued $20.9 million. Farm numbers were down 11%, while sales volume and value were both down 18% from 2019. As with other dry hay, New York topped all states and categories for other haylage and greenchop production and sales.
Sorghum silage and greenchop
There were 231 farms harvesting organic sorghum silage/greenchop in 2021, with total harvested area estimated at just over 9,100 acres and volume of 94,700 tons. All were lower than 2019. The number of farms offering sorghum silage for sale increased, with sales volume up 82% and sales value up 98%, to about $1.9 million. Among individual states, category leadership was split between New York (farms) and Texas (acreage, volume and value of sales).
Corn silage and greenchop
Finally, U.S. organic corn silage harvested area was estimated at 62,916 acres on 1,222 farms, with a total harvest of nearly 1.16 million tons. The number of farms growing organic corn silage was down 17%, but acreage was up 15% and production volume was up 25% from 2019. Sales were reported from 336 farms, down slightly from 2019. However, sales volume hit 422,493 tons, up 49%, and value jumped 63% to $30.1 million. On the production side, Wisconsin had the most farms, but Texas became the leader in acreage, harvest and sales volume and sales value.
Fewer organic cattle
One factor contributing to the decline of organic forage could be the reduction of major organic forage consumers – dairy and beef cattle. Based on the 2021 survey, organic dairy herds totaled 2,528 with a peak of 352,289 cows, down about 600 herds and 11,000 cows from 2019. Organic beef herds were estimated at 442 in 2021, down about 110 from the previous survey. Organic beef cattle numbers peaked at 36,123 head, down about 5,660 from 2019.
Additional survey results as well as the results of previous NASS organic surveys are available at the NASS website.
