Hay Supplies Dwindling In Face of Brutal Winter

(LUBBOCK, TX) With brutal winter weather holding on to a good portion of the Central Plains, livestock producers have almost decimated the existing hay supplies for 2019. This high use of hay comes on the heels of the two smallest hay production years since 1906. Last March, USDA estimated 53.7 million acres of hay to be harvested, a slight drop from 2017, and second only to the smallest hay crop harvested in 2016. With abundant sub-soil moisture across many states, 2019 present growers with good growing opportunities and great prices. The downside of the equation will be for cattle producers looking to supplement feeding this season. USDA will release their Annual Prospective Plantings report on Friday, March 29th at 11:00 AM CDT.