August 27, 2024
• July milk production in the U.S. totaled 18.9 billion pounds, according to USDA’s Milk Production report. Hot summer temperatures could be to blame for marginally lower milk production in three of the top five dairy states of California, Wisconsin, and Idaho. Texas, on the other hand, saw a 6% bump in milk production year-over-year and added 18,000 head to its herd in July.
• The national dairy herd grew by 5,000 head month-over-month to reach 9.33 million milk cows last month. Production per cow in the U.S. averaged 2,028 pounds per day, which was up a pound from July 2023.
• Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity for 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head as of August 1, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report. Placements in feedlots totaled 1.70 million for July, and marketings of fed cattle totaled 1.86 million head.
• Dry conditions in the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the South could cause forage nitrates to spike.
• Brush up on the key pieces of information of a forage analysis report.
August 20, 2024
• The Imperial Irrigation District has received official approval for the Deficit Irrigation Program, and approximately 88,000 acres of alfalfa, 52,000 of bermudagrass, and 18,000 acres of kleingrass have been enrolled. Many predict the pause in production will positively affect local hay prices down the road.
• Untimely rain in the Upper Midwest has left some alfalfa stands damaged and diseased.
• Inoculants are useful to target silage stability pain points.
• Order seed, calibrate drills, and terminate smother crops for tall fescue renovations.
• Here are the top three tenets of planting trees for silvopasture.
August 13, 2024
• Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture hay for the U.S. was projected to be up nearly 5% year-over-year at 52.3 million tons, according to USDA’s latest Crop Production report. The expected bump is likely from a greater average yield estimate of 3.35 tons per acre as the total harvested area remains steady at 15.6 million acres; however, final production figures won’t be released until January 2025.
• All other hay production is also projected to jump 8% compared to last year at 74.4 million tons. Excepted acreage for all other hay is down slightly but estimated average yields are up to 2.07 tons per acre.
• Corn production is estimated to be 1% less than 2023 at 15.1 billion bushels, which would still be the third highest production year on record. Soybean production is projected to be 10% greater than 2023 at a record high of 4.59 billion bushels.
• According to the USDA’sAgricultural Land Values summary, farm real estate values, including land and buildings, averaged $4,170 per acre for 2024. This is up $200, or 5%, from last year’s average of $3,970 per acre.
• Cropland value averaged $5,570 per acre across all 50 states, which is 4.7% greater than the average in 2023. Pastureland value was also up 5.2% this year at $1,830 per acre.
• The Pacific region including California, Oregon, and Washington, edged out the Corn Belt for the highest average real estate value at $8,040 per acre. The runner-up region comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio had an average of $7,930 per acre. The Mountain region ranked lowest with an average farm real estate value of $1,600 per acre.
August 6, 2024
• The USDA will invest $400 million to support farmers from 18 irrigation districts who improve infrastructure, engage in fallowing programs, or shift cropping systems to reduce water consumption in the West.
• Sorghums and small grains are at the greatest risk of high nitrates.
• Are your alfalfa stands feeling the effects of potassium deficiency?
•Zap spotted knapweed before plant populations explode in pastures and hayfields.
• Here’s how to become certified to use a drone on your farm.