Deb Wilks is a dairy nutritionist and consultant with EPL Feed LLC, a nutritional support and service team for dairy producers in the Pacific Northwest.

Hay is the third largest U.S. crop in terms of harvest acres. It also provides environmental services, notably erosion control. Understanding the U.S. hay market is therefore important for both market and policy reasons. This article examines the U.S. hay market since 1919, or when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistical Service began to report data separately for alfalfa hay.

A number of universities and other organizations compile yield data from annual crop variety field trials. Crops tested varies by state. This data may be useful for seed and crop selection for the coming year. Check these websites for results in your area.

Warrant herbicide, an encapsulated formulation of acetochlor often used for pre-emergent weed control in soybeans, has received registration for use in establishing and established alfalfa. This product will be an important part of a weed resistance management program in alfalfa. To view a copy of the supplemental label, click here.

If you purchased alfalfa seed this year, part of your purchase has now been dedicated to funding nine new research projects. The U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative (USAFRI), better known as the Alfalfa Checkoff, recently awarded the third round of funding to research projects submitted by researchers from a diverse collection of geographic areas of the country.

A look at crop/weather maps helps tell the story as the 2018 hay production season winds down in many areas. Continuing drought in the Southwest affected quantity, while widespread rain elsewhere impacted quality and prices.