The Crop Production 2023 Summary recently released by USDA included data on hay production and Dec. 1 hay stocks. All hay production in the U.S. was 6.3% higher year over year from drought-reduced production in 2022 but was 7.8% below the 10-year average from 2012-21.
Total alfalfa hay production in 2023 was 2.2% higher year over year but remains 9.8% below the 2012-21 average. Total other hay production was up 9.5% year over year in 2023 but was 6.3% below the 10-year average. Total Dec. 1 hay stocks were 6.9% higher than one year earlier but were 10.8% below the 10-year average from 2012-21 (see Table 1).
Table 1. All Hay Production and Dec. 1 Hay Stocks, Top 10 Beef Cow States, 2023
Top 10 Beef Cow States | 2023 All Hay Production | Hay Stocks, Dec. 1, 2023 | |||
2023 | 1,000 Tons | 1,000 Tons | % of 2022 | % of 2012-21 Average | |
1 | Texas | 8,748 | 5,500 | +10 | -20.8 |
2 | Oklahoma | 7,313 | 5,900 | +96.7 | +32.4 |
3 | Missouri | 4,831 | 4,700 | +1.1 | -14.3 |
4 | Nebraska | 5,330 | 3,850 | +28.3 | -10.2 |
5 | South Dakota | 6,123 | 5,400 | +24.1 | -0.3 |
6 | Kansas | 5,023 | 3,600 | -12.2 | -21.2 |
7 | Montana | 5,303 | 3,850 | +18.5 | -7.3 |
8 | Kentucky | 4,428 | 3,000 | -3.2 | -18.4 |
9 | Florida | 992 | 470 | +4.4 | -9.4 |
10 | North Dakota | 4,428 | 4,250 | +28.8 | +1.6 |
Top 10 | Subtotal | 52,519 | 40,520 | +18.5 | -7.3 |
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U. S. | Total | 118,769 | 76,721 | +6.9 | -10.8 |
Table 1 shows the hay situation for the 10 largest beef cow states. These states account for 57.8% of the total beef cow inventory in 2023 and represent nine of the top 10 states for Dec. 1 hay stocks.
Hay stocks in the top 10 beef cow states were up 18.5% year over year but were 7.3% below the 2012-21 average for these states. Total Dec. 1 hay stocks in these states represented 52.8% of total U.S. hay stocks. Table 1 shows that hay stocks were higher year over year in eight of the 10 states, with decreases only in Kansas and Kentucky.
Among the top 10 states, Oklahoma stands out with Dec. 1 hay stocks up 96.7% year over year and 32.4% higher than the 10-year average. Oklahoma had 2023 hay production up 88% year over year and up 36.8% over the 2012-21 average. Oklahoma and North Dakota were the only top 10 beef cow states with Dec. 1 hay stocks that were larger than the 10-year average.
In general, the hay situation is better this winter than one year ago, but hay stocks remain below long-term averages in most states. The current severe winter weather will significantly increase hay usage and highlights the reality that the overall forage situation is questionable going forward. — Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
