Nevada Hay Prices                                                   Prices for Nevada hay increased for All Hay, Alfalfa and Alfalfa Mixtures in September and October, while All Other Hay prices decreased in both months. The All Hay price came in at $100.00 per ton with Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures at $98.00 per ton and All Other Hay at $120.00 per ton. September hay prices were $97.00 for All Hay, $97.00 for Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, and $103.00 for All Other Hay.

National Hay Prices

On the national level, All Hay, Alfalfa and Alfalfa mixtures were up in September and October, while the All Other Hay prices were down in both months. The national price level for October had an All Hay price of $89.80 per ton, Alfalfa at $97.80 per ton, and All Other Hay at $68.60 per ton. September hay prices for the U. S. were $87.70 for All Hay, $95.00 for Alfalfa, and $65.70 for All Other Hay.

                                              These prices are the result of our monthly Hay Prices Received by Farmers Survey. Reporters include both producers and dealers. These prices represent average price at point of first sale for all grades and qualities sold. The average price concept is that price which would result from dividing the total dollars received by all farmers, before any marketing charges are deducted, by total quantity sold.

Alfalfa Hay Forecast

Nevada’s alfalfa hay production is forecast to reach 1.238 million tons this year, 1.1 percent above last year’s crop and 1 percent above the 2002 crop according to Nevada Agricultural Statistics Service.

Acreage harvested matched the State record of 275,000 acres, 10,000 acres more than that was harvested in 2003. The average yield of 4.5 tons per acre per acre was up 0.1 ton from the previous year. Water shortages continued to plague some areas, most acutely in the Lovelock area where some fields were abandoned and others had limited cutting. Limited rainfall during the growing season minimized rain damage to cut hay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October Weather Summary

 

October was a month of seasonal transition for Nevada weather. Warm and dry weather prevailed early in the month followed by record rains and colder weather after mid-month. Snow began to accumulate in the mountains. Most fieldwork was completed during the first half of the month. The final cutting of alfalfa was harvested and hay shipping to the West was active. Potato digging was completed and corn silage harvest ended. Onions were taken to sheds for sorting, shipping, and storage. Seed garlic was shipped to California. Mint distillation wound down. Cattle and sheep were moved to winter pastures. Calves and yearlings were being shipped to feedlots.

 

Monthly Weather Summary for Selected Nevada Stations, September 2004

 

 

                       July-September Milk Production Up 1.1 Percent

Quarterly production of milk for the U.S. during July-September was 42.2 billion pounds, nearly 1.1 percent above the July-September period last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.03 million head, 40,000 head less than the same period last year.

 

^{/1 May not add due to rounding.}

^{/2 Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh}

^{/3 Excludes milk sucked by calves./11} Excludes

 

 

 

 

Pasture and Range Condition