April 2022 Hay Pellets |
| By Hay and Forage Grower |
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April 26, 2022 • Year-over-year milk production declined by 0.5% during March. This followed a 0.9% drop in February and 1.7% decline in January, according to USDA’s Milk Production report. • The U.S. dairy herd was 87,000 cows smaller in March than it was the previous year; however, the herd was 15,000 cows larger than in February. Milk prices are strong with Class III future prices being over $24 per hundredweight through August. • Cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market (feedlots with 1,000 or more head) totaled 12.1 million head on April 1. The inventory was 2% above a year ago. It was the highest April 1 inventory since tracking began in 1996, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 2 million head, 2% below 2021. • Be ready to roll when the opportunity arises for spring forage seedings. April 19, 2022 • State veterinarians in Utah have confirmed several positive cases of trichomoniasis in bulls. More possible cases are under investigation. “Trich” is a venereal disease of cattle caused by a small parasite. It is spread between cattle during breeding. • The University of Kentucky warns growers of insecticide resistance in alfalfa weevil populations.• Alfalfa and red clover can supply nitrogen for following crops when grown for only one year. • Penn State University reminds timothy growers to scout for mites. • Co-grazing animal species has the potential to boost profits. April 12, 2022 • The USDA pegged the total hay acres expected to be harvested in 2022 at 50.3 million in their recent Prospective Plantings report. That was 1% below the 50.7 million acres harvested in 2021. • Alfalfa hay exports during February totaled 232,170 metric tons (MT), which was 10% higher than a year ago and 16% more than the previous month. Through the first two months, alfalfa hay exports are running 16% ahead of 2021. • China, Japan, and South Korea all imported significantly more U.S. alfalfa hay in February compared to the previous year. China imported 123,614 MT of U.S. alfalfa during the month. • From a corn perspective, here are some thoughts from the University of Wisconsin’s Joe Lauer on how to approach the upcoming growing season. • Deciphering the grazing alphabet of AUs, AUDs, and AUMs April 5, 2022 • Cornell University forage experts remind us that forage shrink costs more when inputs are high-priced. • Spring weeds in forage stands and pastures may demand control measures. Here’s a good review of some options. • According to USDA, farmers expect to plant only 89.5 million acres of corn in 2022, which is down 4% from last year. Commodity experts expected a decline in acres because of higher input costs but not this large of a drop. Most of the lost corn acres will be planted to soybeans. • It’s time to assess forage legume stands. • The University of Nebraska provides some helpful information when considering corn silage protein content in livestock rations. |
