Forage supply and prices in the Western Corn Belt, High Plains affected by drought
7/20/2023 12:35:21 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri
North Dakota
Nebraska
South Dakota
Start Date: 7/13/2023
-
Low hay stocks in some Western Corn Belt/High Plains states mean forage buyers will likely see continued high prices. Some livestock producers are trying to buy hay earlier this year, due to concerns about supply as drought cuts into hay production.
A sale in Rock Valley, Iowa on July 13 featured 140 loads, which was higher than normal for the time of year. Fewer loads of hay were available from eastern South Dakota, due to drought. The manager of the Rock Valley auction estimated that grass hay from that area could be down 60% to 70%.
In Nebraska, 9,670 tons of hay were sold the week of July 14, per the USDA Nebraska Direct Hay Report, compared to only 2,970 from last year at the same week.
DTN – The Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), July 19, 2023
Sources
