Larger Hay Supply; Lower Hay Prices
That’s true of the average, but how about for the big cow-calf states?
January 22, 2025
by Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University
Larger May 1 stocks and increased year-over-year hay production led to larger hay supplies in 2024 (see Fig. 1). Total hay production in 2024 was up 3.3% year over year and combined with May 1 hay stocks up 46.6% over 2023 levels to increase the total hay supply by 7.9% compared to year-earlier levels. The total hay supply was 1.7% below the 10-year average supply from 2014-2023.
Total hay production includes total alfalfa hay production, almost unchanged from 2023 levels and 8.4% below the 10-year average as well as total other hay production, up 5.5% year over year and 0.6% above the 2014-2023 average.
Coming into winter 2024/2025, Dec. 1 hay stocks were up 6.3% year over year, though still down 3.2% from the 10-year average. Hay supplies have recovered from the drought-reduced levels of 2022-2023 (see Fig. 1) and, as a result, hay prices have dropped from record levels (see Fig. 2).
Table 1 shows the top 10 state rankings for Dec. 1 stocks; all hay production, alfalfa hay production and other hay production. It highlights the considerable regional variation in hay production and stocks.
Table 1: Dec. 1 hay stocks, all hay, alfalfa hay and other hay production,
|
||||||||||||
| Rank | State | 1,000 tons | % chg* | State | 1,000 tons | % chg* | State | 1,000 tons | % chg* | State | 1,000 tons | % chg* |
| Dec. 1 stocks | All hay production | Alfalfa hay production | Other hay production | |||||||||
| 1 | TX | 7,600 | +11.8 | TX | 11,960 | +25.5 | ID | 3,854 | -11.4 | TX | 11,520 | +28.5 |
| 2 | SD | 5,600 | +3.3 | MO | 6,212 | +0.1 | NE | 3,483 | +5.0 | MO | 5.460 | -1.8 |
| 3 | MO | 4,800 | -10.6 | NE | 6,135 | +3.1 | SD | 3,480 | -0.3 | OK | 5,115 | +4.1 |
| 4 | OK | 4,800 | +2.9 | OK | 5,895 | +5.6 | MT | 3,225 | -10.3 | KY | 4,700 | +3.0 |
| 5 | NE | 4,300 | +0.3 | SD | 5,840 | +5.8 | CA | 3,168 | -26.4 | TN | 3,586 | -7.2 |
| 6 | MT | 3.800 | -5.4 | KY | 5,000 | -0.8 | WI | 3,030 | +11.0 | NE | 2,652 | +0.7 |
| 7 | KY | 3,650 |
+3.5 | MT | 4,815 | -9.2 | IA | 2,736 | +2.8 | AR | 2,583 | +5.8 |
| 8 | ND | 3,550 | -11.3 | CA | 4,640 | -19.6 | MN | 2,550 | +3.0 | SD | 2,360 | +16.3 |
| 9 | KS | 3,300 | -28.1 | ID | 4,567 | -9.5 | CO | 2,498 | -0.4 | KS | 2,325 | -28.1 |
| 10 | WI | 2,900 | +27.1 | WI | 3,904 | +13.5 | UT | 2,080 | +0.6 | PA | 2,270 | +4.4 |
| Top 10 | 44,300 | -1.5 | 58,968 | +3.2 | 30,104 | -4.4 | 42,571 | +5.4 | ||||
| U.S. | 2024 | 81,534 | -3.2 | 122,462 | -3.3 | 49,840 | -8.4 | 72,622 | +0.6 | |||
| 10-yr avg. |
2014- 2023 |
84,237 | 126,608 | 54,391 | 72,217 | |||||||
Texas is the largest hay producer, mostly other hay, with production and Dec. 1 stocks well above average. Alfalfa hay production was down compared to the 10-year average in some important dairy production states (California and Idaho), as well as in some mostly beef cow states (Montana and South Dakota) that depend on alfalfa hay (Table 1).
Fig. 1: U.S. all-hay supply
In many states, increased hay supplies are providing more management flexibility for cattle producers and lower hay costs are reducing annual cost of production somewhat. However, among major beef cow states Florida, Kansas, Montana and North Dakota, 2024 Dec. 1 hay stocks are down year over year and below the 10-year average.
Editor’s note: Derrell Peel is a livestock marketing specialist for Oklahoma State University Extension, which provided this article as part of its Jan. 13, 2025, OSU Extension Cow-Calf Corner newsletter. Reprinted with permission. [Lead photo by Shauna Hermel.]
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 17, No. 1-B
Fig. 2: Hay price, U.S. avg. $/ton (2024, 2025 projected)
Topics: Business , Feedstuffs , Feedyard , Management , Nutrition
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
Related Content
Current Angus Beef Bulletin
Articles to help you make the most of your investment in Angus genetics.
