The USDA projects a larger domestic hay crop in 2024, with total hay production estimated at 74.45 million tons. This is an 8% increase from 2023. Improved weather conditions have boosted the average yield to 2.07 tons per acre, offsetting a decrease in harvested area to 35.904 million acres.

In 2023, production was 68.853 million tons with an average yield of 1.85 tons per acre on 37.187 million acres.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures are expected to increase by 5% to 52.369 million tons, with yields rising to 3.35 tons per acre on 15.627 million acres. Last year, alfalfa and alfalfa mixture production came in at 49.916 million tons with an average yield of 3.19 tons per acre on 15,634 million acres.

Read more on the 2024 hay crop forecast here.