Looking across a pasture, we should expect to see grazing animals, a diversity of forage species, fences with gates and drinking water sources. Not so obvious is the dynamic flow of energy, nutrients and water above and below ground. But rest assured, this is occurring constantly, just at different rates depending on the seasonal growth cycle.

Fertilizer is the largest single expense for Western irrigated alfalfa producers. Even at modest rates, fertilizer can easily exceed over $200 per acre annually, with phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contributing the largest component.

Early season weather forecasts suggest the 2018 summer could be a repeat of 2016, when many alfalfa producers discovered excessively high alfalfa hay nitrates. The question frequently asked is, “How do I prevent this from happening again?”

We never know what the markets or weather will be, but we know they will change from what they are today. Life on the farm is similarly subject to changes, but we like to think we’re in a bit more control with it than our influence over the markets or weather.

Timothy hay is Washington state’s largest- and highest-valued grass hay commodity. Timothy hay in the Pacific Northwest is primarily grown for export to Japan to be used for feed in dairy herds. In the lower Columbia Basin, researchers have received yields up to 10 tons per acre per year in three cuttings, but most farmers get two cuttings and receive around 5 to 7 tons per acre per year.

Western hay growers have earned the reputation of producing high-quality grass and alfalfa hay. These growers export millions of tons of “dry” hay within the region, across the U.S. and to worldwide ports.