2015 Hay Tonnage Good, Quality Down

Wetter weather in Kansas has brought needed moisture after years of drought, but it is causing problems for hay growers.

Steve Hessman is the hay market reporter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s office in Dodge City.

He said Tuesday that Kansas has had good hay production when it comes to tonnage, but it is not the best quality in most cases.

Untimely rains have damaged much of cut alfalfa in fields, making it is only good for grinding hay.

Those rains have also delayed timely cutting, and much of the hay was overly matured when it was finally cut.

It has been only in the past couple of weeks during the recent dry spell that some growers have been able to cut the top-quality, dairy hay off irrigated fields.