While hay exports still remain a small portion of total US hay production, they continued to rise in 2017, eclipsing 4 million tonnes, according to USDA Foreign Agriculture Service data reported in a release by Hay and Forage Grower.
Total exports of alfalfa and other hay (think grass) hit 4.2 million tonnes. This exceeds 2016’s total by 6.3% and marks the first time total hay exports exceeded 4 million tonnes, USDA-FAS said.
Based on 2017 USDA production data, only 3.5% of all hay produced enters the export market with about 5.3% of alfalfa being shipped out. In the seven Western states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington, hay exports play a much larger role, Hay and Forage Grower said. Dan Putnam, University of California forage extension specialist, said hay exports make up about 51% of the grass hay production and 15% of alfalfa production in these states.
ALFALFA HAY
Alfalfa hay exports last year totaled a record 2.7 million tonnes, up 7.2% from 2016 and the third straight year of growth, Hay and Forage Grower said.
When speaking of alfalfa exports, China remains the 800-pound gorilla, Hay and Forage Grower said. The country purchased 1.17 million tonnes of US alfalfa in 2017, more than double the amount bought by Japan, the second-place importer.
Exports to China were 6.8% more than 2016, data showed. This percentage bump was less than during the previous two years, perhaps indicating the US was moving toward the end of a period of huge growth in this market. During the past five years, alfalfa hay exports to China rose a whopping 226%.
Japan’s US alfalfa hay imports of 560,000 tonnes was 14.6% higher than 2016 and was the country’s largest purchase since 2011. The past year marked the third straight year of higher alfalfa exports to Japan.
Vaulting into third place as an importer of US alfalfa was Saudi Arabia. The Saudis imported 360,000 tonnes, 40% more than in 2016.
As recently as 2014, Saudi Arabia was essentially a non-player. The country’s meteoric rise as an alfalfa buyer relates to its phase out of domestic alfalfa production to conserve water while still sustaining its domestic dairy industry.
OTHER HAY
USDA-FAS reported 1.53 million tonnes of other hay was exported in 2017, 5% more than in 2016 and similar to 2015’s total.
Japan leads all export partners for non-alfalfa hay, with 760,000 tonnes, 5% more than the previous year.
South Korea raised its import total of US other hay by 20% in 2017 with a total of 540,000 tonnes. Rounding out the top five export trade partners for other hay were Taiwan (100,000 tonnes), UAE (60,000) and China (20,000). China’s total was down 63% from 2016.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
A total of 166 head cattle sold last Wednesday on the Livestock Exchange Video Auction at $125.63 per cwt, down $98.63 from a week earlier.
Cash sales this week range from $119 to $121 per cwt on a live basis, down $5 from last week. Dressed-basis trading last week was $200 to $203, down $4 to $5.
The USDA’s choice cutout Tuesday was down $0.17 per cwt at $222.36, while select was off $1.22 at $214.24. The choice/select spread widened to $8.12 from $7.07 with 91 loads of fabricated product sold into the spot market.
The CME Feeder Cattle index for the seven days ended Monday, was $136.22 per cwt, down $0.46. This compares with Tuesday’s Mar settlement of $135.42, up $0.50 and Apr’s close of $135.35, up $0.85.