Stocks of all hay stored on farms totaled 104 million tons on Dec. 1, 2007, up 8% from the December 2006 number, according to last Friday's USDA report. Hay disappearance from May to December 2007 totaled 61.3 million tons, compared with 67.1 million tons for the same period one year earlier.

Compared with Dec. 1, 2006, hay stocks increased in most of the Great Plains, eastern Rocky Mountain, Delta and Southeastern states. Good growing conditions prevailed in many of these states, resulting in higher hay production. Meanwhile, stocks decreased throughout the upper Mississippi Valley, central Corn Belt, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, Mid-Atlantic, and the western Rocky Mountain regions. These areas experienced drier-than-normal to drought conditions and lower hay production.