The Crop Production 2023 Summary recently released by USDA included data on hay production and December 1 hay stocks. All hay production in the U.S. was 6.3 percent higher year over year from drought-reduced production in 2022 but was 7.8 percent below the 10-year average from 2012-2021.  

Total alfalfa hay production in 2023 was 2.2 percent higher year over year but remains 9.8 percent below the 2012-2021 average.  Total other hay production was up 9.5 percent year over year in 2023 but was 6.3 percent below the ten-year average. 

Total December 1, 2023 hay stocks were 6.9 percent higher than one year earlier but were 10.8 percent below the ten-year average from 2012-2021 (Table 1).

Table 1.  All Hay Production and December 1 Hay Stocks, Top Ten Beef Cow States, 202

Table 1 shows the hay situation for the ten largest beef cow states.  These states account for 57.8 percent of the total beef cow inventory in 2023 and represent nine of the top ten states for December 1 hay stocks. 

Hay stocks in the top ten beef cow states were up 18.5 percent year over year but were 7.3 percent below the 2012-2021 average for these states.  Total December 1 hay stocks in these states represented 52.8 percent of total U.S. hay stocks. 

Table 1 shows that hay stocks were higher year over year in eight of the ten states, with decreases only in Kansas and Kentucky.  Among the top ten states, Oklahoma stands out with December 1 hay stocks up 96.7 percent year over year and 32.4 percent higher than the ten-year average. 

Oklahoma had 2023 hay production up 88.0 percent year over year and up 36.8 percent over the 2012-2021 average.  Oklahoma and North Dakota were the only top ten beef cow states with December 1 hay stocks that were larger than the ten-year average. 

In general, the hay situation is better this winter than one year ago, but hay stocks remain below long-term averages in most states.  The current severe winter weather will significantly increase hay usage and highlights the reality that the overall forage situation is questionable going forward.