A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics

by Levi Russell

Producers are likely to have some issues securing adequate hay at affordable prices thanks to a continued deficit in Georgia and the southeast generally. As of the May hay report, stocks were down 15% in Georgia, 9% in Alabama, 13% in Tennessee, and 27% in Florida. Stocks were 7% higher in South Carolina relative to 2016. The percentage drop in Florida and increase in South Carolina are less important since those states contribute relatively little to hay stocks in the region generally.

click to view larger size
click to view larger size

The recent drought has reduced hay acreage here in Georgia and acres are down across the southeast. This points to the potential for a slow recovery in hay stocks into next year as well.

Fortunately, corn and soybean prices are not likely to rise dramatically nationwide in the next several months, which will help keep prices of typical feed ingredients relatively low.

For those considering winter forages this year, please feel free to check out my Winter Annuals Budgets on this page: https://www.caes.uga.edu/departments/ag-econ/extension/budgets.html

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