The drought in the Northeast region of the U.S. is reducing hay production and increasing hay demand. The Northeast region has 11 percent of the U.S. equine inventories and 19 percent of U.S. dairy production, but the region's hay production will be less than 6 percent the U.S. total in 1999. This will lead to larger inflows of hay into the Northeast region from the North Central region of the U.S. and from Canada. The drought in the Northeast has been described as the worst since The Great Depression. For those in hay and forage industry who are looking for an objective measure of the drought's severity, the USDA's weekly report on pasture conditions has potential.
Pasture conditions provide an indication of both potential demand and production.
Poor pasture conditions indicate less forage available for grazing. Under these conditions hay demand increases as forage consuming livestock roughage needs will have to be supplemented by harvested forages, primarily hay. In addition, poor pasture conditions also indicate that the conditions for growing grass and legumes for hay are also poor and production will likely be done. The USDA's report on pasture conditions reports the percentage of pastures in each of five classifications. These condition classifications are excellent, good, fair, poor, and very poor.