Early yields give the first clear read on new‑crop performance, showing strong quality in some areas and lighter‑than‑expected tonnage in others.

While cost is the primary factor, there are several reasons to choose buying hay or growing it.

Early cuttings hint at new‑crop promise, but drought and wide quality spreads keep hay markets cautious heading into summer.

With careful attention to utilization, producers can significantly reduce hay waste and get more nutrition from every bale.

“The market sometimes, or at least now, feels like we've gone from good, to difficult, to different. And I think one of the most significant things about the current hay market right now is that things are very different,” market analyst and hay exporter Scott Courtright told attendees at the California Alfalfa and Forage Symposium.

Josh Callen, market analyst and publisher of The Hoyt Report, gave attendees at the California Alfalfa and Forage Symposium an update on hay markets in the western U.S.