Hay Prices Nevada Hay   All Hay and Alfalfa hay prices for July were up for the month of June while All Other Hay remained averaged for the month. All Hay came in at $122.00 per ton, $9.00 per ton above the June average. Alfalfa, at $122.00 per ton, was up $9.00 from last month. All Other Hay averaged $129 per ton.   National Report   National level prices were down for All Hay, Alfalfa and Alfalfa mixtures as well as All Other Hay for the month. All Hay came in at $99.70 per ton, $2.30 per ton below the June average. Alfalfa, at $109.00 per ton, was down $3.00 from last month. All Other Hay averaged $75.90 per ton, up $2.30 from June 2005 prices.

 

 

Farm Production Expenditures up 5.1 Percent in 2004

 

 U.S. farm production expenditures totaled $210.7 billion in 2004, up 5.1 percent from the revised 2003 total of $200.5 billion. The largest contributors to the increase were tractors and self-propelled farm machinery up 24.3 percent; fuels, up 19.4 percent; fertilizer, up 14.0 percent; feed, up 9.1% and labor up, 5.5 percent. Farm services and interest were the only expenditure categories to show a decrease being down 2.2 and 4.3 percent, respectively. The rent expenditure was unchanged from the previous year. The largest two expenditure categories were feed, which accounted for 14.2 percent of the U.S. total production expenses and farm services which accounted for 12.5 percent of the U.S. total production expenses. The farm services category includes expense items such as custom work, utilities, marketing charges, veterinary services, transportation costs, and miscellaneous business expenses.

 

The average expenditures per U.S. farm in 2004 were $99,983 compared to $94,542 as revised for 2003. On the average, U.S. farm operations in 2004 spent $14,236 on feed; $12,480 on farm services; $10,914 on labor; $9,016 on livestock and poultry purchases; and $7,782 on rent. Revised estimates for 2003 indicated U.S. farms spent an average of $12,967 on feed; $12,684 on farm services; $10,279 on labor; $8,723 on livestock and poultry purchases; and $7,733 on rent.

 

 

 

National Wheat and Barley Production Down

 

Winter Wheat production is forecast at 1.53 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last year’s production. The U.S. Winter Wheat yields are forecast at 44.5 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushels from last year. Other Spring Wheat production is forecast at 589 million bushels, up 3 percent from 2004. The U.S. Other Spring Wheat yields are forecast at 43.2 bushels per acre, unchanged from last year’s record high. Barley production is forecast at 242.9 million bushels, down 13 percent from 2004. The U.S. Barley yields are forecast at 70.0 bushels per acre, .6 bushels above last year’s 69.4 bushels per acre yield.       

 

 

July Cattle Inventory Down Slightly

 

All cattle and calves in the United States as of July 1, 2005, totaled 104.5 million head, 1 percent above the 103.6 million on July 1, 2004 and 1 percent above the 103.9 million two years ago. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.8 million, were 1 percent above the 42.5 million on July 1, 2004 and slightly above the 42.7 million two years ago.

 

Beef cows, at 33.8 million, were up 1 percent from July 1, 2004 and up slightly from two years ago. Milk cows, at 9.05 million, were up 1 percent from July 1, 2004 but down 1 percent from two years ago.

 

Other class estimates on July 1, 2005 and the changes from July 1, 2004, are as follows:

• All heifers 500 pounds and over, 16.2 million, up 2 percent.

• Beef replacement heifers, 5.0 million, up 4 percent.

• Milk replacement heifers, 3.7 million, up 3 percent.

• Other heifers, 7.5 million, down 1 percent.

• Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 14.4 million, up 1 percent.

• Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.1 million, up 2 percent.

• Calves less than 500 pounds, 29.0 million, up slightly.

• All cattle and calves on feed for slaughter, 12.0 million, up 2 percent.

 

Calf Crop Up Slightly

 

The 2005 calf crop is expected to be 37.8 million, up slightly from 2004 but down slightly from 2003. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 27.5 million, up slightly from 2004 but down 1 percent from 2003

 

 

July 1 All Sheep and Lamb Inventory Up 2 Percent

 

United States: All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on July 1, 2005, totaled 7.80 million head, 2 percent above July 1, 2004. Breeding sheep inventory at 4.66 million head on July 1, 2005 was 2 percent above July 1, 2004. Market sheep and lambs (including newborn lambs) at 3.14 million head, were 1 percent above last July. The breeding herd consists of 3.79 million ewes one year old and older, 185,000 rams one year old and older, and 680,000 replacement lambs (including newborn lambs). Market lamb inventory at 3.06 million head was comprised of 1.81 million lambs under 65 pounds, 635,000 lambs 65-84 pounds, and 350,000 lambs 85-105 pounds, and 260,000 lambs over 105 pounds. Market sheep inventory was 90,000.

 

The 2005 Lamb Crop in the United States is expected to total 4.12 million head, up 1 percent from the 2004 lamb crop of 4.10 million head. Lambs born during January through June 2005 totaled 3.65 million head or 89 percent of the yearly total. An additional 470,000 head are expected to be born during the period July through December 2005.

 

July Crop & Weather Summary

 

Temperatures averaged above normal statewide and Reno recorded the highest average monthly temperature ever. Record high temperatures were recorded during the middle of the month before cooler moister arrived toward the end. Isolated thunderstorms dropped heavy precipitation in some others and nearly nothing in others. Some flash flooding occurred. Lightning ignited range fires in both southern and northern Nevada with some reaching very large size. High temperatures and adequate irrigation water were beneficial to crop growth. The first cutting of alfalfa hay was wrapping up early in the month and the second cutting was in full swing at the end of the month. Native hay cutting was underway with some areas reporting exceptional yields. Many small grain fields were cut for hay. Aphid required control in some alfalfa fields. Alfalfa fields kept for seed were bloomed out. New alfalfa fields were off to a good start. Fall seeded grain fields kept for seed or grain were ripening at the end of the month. Livestock were tended on good to excellent Summer ranges. Bulls were turned out with the cows and livestock marketing for Fall delivery was active. Main farm and ranch activities: irrigating, haying, weed spraying, tending livestock, marketing cattle.

 

Monthly Weather Summary for Selected Nevada Stations, July 2005

 

 

 

Quarterly Milk Production

 

Nevada Report

Nevada quarterly milk production during the April-June quarter totaled 137 million pounds, up 9.6 percent from 125 million pounds from the April-June quarter in 2004. The average number of milk cows in the state remained unchanged from last year at with 25,000 cows.

National Report

Milk production in the U.S. during the April-June quarter totaled 45.6 billion pounds, up 4.1 percent from the April-June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.04 million head, 34,000 head more than the same period last year.

 

 

 

Pasture & Range