July 30, 2024
• Milk production in the United States totaled 18.8 billion pounds in June, down 1% year-over-year, according to USDA’s latest Milk Production report. The report also included revisions to the May estimate, pulling milk output for the first six months of the year 0.9% below that of 2023, which is the smallest first-half total since 2020.
• Cow numbers also dropped by 62,000 head year-over-year, and milk production per cow slid to 2,010 pounds, which was just slightly lower than June 2023.
• New Mexico posted the greatest decline in June milk production, falling 12.5% compared to 2023. Six states reported positive changes in milk production year-over-year: South Dakota, Florida, Texas, Washington, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
• Keep all four tractor tires on the ground with these tips to prevent rollovers.
• Springs oats can be seeded for fall grazing, as well as forage turnip.
July 23, 2024
• Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with the capacity of 1,000 head or more were up 1% year-over-year at 11.3 million head on July 1, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report. Placements in feedlots during June dipped 7% below 2023 numbers at 1.56 million head. Marketings of fed cattle were also down 9% year-over-year at 1.79 million head.
• Fertilizer prices remain high because of these international issues.
• While the Midwest faces flooding, southeastern pastures are getting drier.
• A lot can go wrong when bales are made at inadequate moisture levels.
• Toxic blister beetles are starting to appear in South Dakota alfalfa stands.
July 16, 2024
• The length and intensity of rainfall effects hay dry matter loss and leaching rates.
• Here are some options to accelerate hay drying time.
• A University of Nebraska-Lincoln study finds farmers show bias toward the economic benefits of regenerative ag compared to environmental and social ones.
• Check out these fact sheets on post-wheat forage plantings.
• Find answers to pinkeye frustrations in this webinar.
July 9, 2024
• Alfalfa hay exports to all trade partners totaled 198,993 metric tons (MT) in May, according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. This was down nearly 12% from April, but it was an almost 20% improvement from May 2023.
• China continues to top the chart for alfalfa hay exports, but demand to the Asian country slid 13% month-over-month to 79,313 MT after a 17% drop the previous month. Alfalfa hay exports to Saudi Arabia and Japan totaled 42,373 MT and 35, 442 MT, respectively.
• All hay exports in May reached 295,296 MT, falling about 9% from the April report. Although exports to Japan were up 7% month-over-month at 90,620 MT, a record-high exchange rate may put pressure on future demand.
• The what, how, and why behind forage testing.
• One good rain won’t save a drought-stressed pasture.
July 2, 2024
• Harvested hay acreage projections are down for 2024, according to USDA’s June Acreage report. Total harvested hay acres are expected to reach 51.5 million acres, which is 2% less than what was harvested in the United States last year.
• Harvested alfalfa and alfalfa mixture acreage is pegged at 15.6 million acres, which is almost even with 2023 numbers. Nonalfalfa hay acreage, on the other hand, is down 3.5% from last year at 35.9 million acres.
• The USDA Acreage report predicted corn acres planted for all purposes to hit 91.5 million acres, which is down roughly 3% from last year’s total of 94.6 million acres. Corn acres specifically harvested for grain are also expected to decline about 3.5% year-over-year at 83.4 million acres.
• Limit yield loss from bermudagrass stem maggot by harvesting forage early.
• Don’t waste time buying seed for tall fescue stand renovations.
