PROGRESSIVE FORAGE.COM – The USDA estimated 2018 dry hay acreage at 53.7 million acres, down just 1 percent (58,000 acres) from a year ago. If realized, this will represent the second lowest total U.S. hay harvested area since 1908, behind only 2016.

In contrast, states expected to reduce hay harvest area are Pennsylvania (-170,000 acres), Missouri (-100,000 acres) and Oregon, Kentucky and New York (down 90,000, 80,000 and 70,000 acres, respectively). States in the Southeast are planning to harvest fewer acres than in 2017.

Record lows for all hay harvested area are expected in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Rhode Island and Wisconsin in 2018.

Among the top dairy states, California, Wisconsin, Idaho, Pennsylvania and New York are expected to reduce hay acreage with Texas unchanged and only Michigan increasing acreage (+20,000). Read More