New crop alfalfa in Washington and Idaho

Sources report that first cutting alfalfa hay will start in southern Idaho this week and that a little new alfalfa hay has been cut in the southern Columbia Basin in Washington. Due to erratic winter and early spring weather, where at times temperatures were warmer than normal and then colder than normal, some growers in Washington said they would be as much as two weeks later than normal starting first cutting alfalfa hay production.

With warmer weather in the second half of April and early May, alfalfa hay growth has come on strong and some growers in Washington now say they will only be slightly later than normal; some possibly a week behind schedule. Growers in Idaho and Washington are optimistic about new crop alfalfa hay prices as old crop hay supplies are pretty well cleaned up and recent prices on old crop hay have been much higher than a year ago, particularly in Washington.

Seth Hoyt

Author of The Hoyt Report, providing hay market analysis and insight.