This has occurred in spite of the high prices in the drought affected areas, particularly the Northeast and some of the South. The low national prices are the result of record U.S. hay supplies. The high prices in the Northeast correspond to record low hay supplies there. These large price differentials are causing hay to flow from the low price areas to the higher priced regions, where demand is strong and supplies are low.
Hay supplies are record low in the Northeast region.
Hay supplies in the Northeast are 10 million tons. This is down 43 percent from a decade ago, down 23 percent from just five years ago, and down 12 percent from a year ago. The decline in supplies is mainly due to sharp declines in yields and a small decline in acres harvested. Hay production in the Northeast region is estimated to be 8.4 million tons, down 19 percent from a year ago. Other areas of tight supplies include Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia.