The forage estimate program is new for 2000. The purpose is to measure annual production of forage crops not reported as dry hay, with an emphasis on total alfalfa production. Acres, production, and yield are reported for haylage and greenchop together, and for total forage production. Alfalfa production is reported both as a dry hay and combined with other forage crops. Vermont is one of the eight top forage producing States included in the program.
Forage is defined as alfalfa, grasses and grains cut for hay.
In 2000, the total hay forage production, in the state of Vermont, was more than 1 million tons. This tonnage is a dry weight equivalent of all harvested hay, which includes greenchop, haylage and dry hay. Alfalfa forage accounted for nearly one-third of the 1 million tons harvested. There were 375,000 acres of hay forage harvested in Vermont during 2000. Alfalfa cut for haylage and greenchop accounted for 36 percent of the 1.2 million tons harvested.