JR The first cutting that sold for those prices was very good, cut short and grew slowly because of the cold weather. Most of this hay would test in the 56 to 58 TDN range, 20 t0 23% protien, on a 90% dry matter basis. Hay from this area is usually graded this way to accomidate the large dairy industry in Calif.
The dairies have been struggling in this area, the west, as I'm guess they are back there. Over last year, some of my buyers' dairy accounts ran to over 90 days behind, one buyer went banckupt. Of course they've recovered somewhat this year only to now be hit with higher grain prices, a record low alfalfa crop and large competing export demand. It also looks like in the bid for acres next year, that hay acreage could lose considerably here, although a lot of this high desert region of Nevada and eastern Oregon and Washington is good only for alfalfa.
I'd say an average yield here is maybe 5.5 to 6 tons on established stands. While we're now on our 3rd cutting, we won't average over 4 tons this year. Best, JR
