Charleston, West Virginia – On farm hay stocks, as of May 1, 2024, totaled 185,000 tons. This is
10,000 tons more than what was on hand last year at this time.
The disappearance of all hay stocks on farms from December 1, 2023 – May 1, 2024, was 595,000 tons, 2 percent less than the December 1, 2022 – May 1, 2023, crop disappearance of 605,000 tons for the same period.
United States – Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.28 billion bushels, up 2 percent from 2023.
As of May 1, the United States yield is forecast at 50.7 bushels per acre, up 0.1 bushel from last
year’s average yield of 50.6 bushels per acre. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 25.2 million acres, up 2 percent from last year.
All on farm hay stocks stored on United States farms as of May 1, 2024, totaled 21.0 million tons, up 47 percent from May 1, 2023. Disappearance from December 1, 2023 – May 1, 2024, totaled 55.7 million tons, down 3 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Record high May 1 hay stock levels were estimated in Montana, Oklahoma, and Utah. Record low hay stocks were estimated in Rhode Island.