A slight increase in hay acreage and yield-boosting moisture conditions in some regions provide hope for increased forage production in 2023.

Moisture conditions are improving, but hay exports and milk prices are weakening, with a likely impact on demand.

Idaho Hay and Forage Association President Will Ricks joins us today on the podcast. Will raises hay for Idaho livestock, as well as for the export markets. Hay has become Idaho’s #2 field crop in 2022, edging past wheat for the first time.

Two years of drought have had a major impact on hay production, according to the recently released Dec. 1 hay stocks from the USDA.

Here’s Progressive Forage’s monthly look at factors impacting hay markets for January 2023.

Whether buying or selling hay, there’s plenty to unwrap as the calendar year comes to a close.

The Western drought sent regional hay prices higher, especially for dairy-quality hay. Demand from China pushed alfalfa exports to an 11-month high, but global sales of other hay continued to slump.