alfalfa

The National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance is out with the 2019 edition of the “Alfalfa Variety Ratings”.  This year’s publication is intended to help hay and dairy farmers, extension specialists and anyone else in the hay industry improve yields and in many cases address pest problems.  Beth Nelson, President o...

National and Northwest hay prices enjoyed a modest increase over the past year.  According to NASS, the all hay prices increased $24 from August 2017 to August this year.  The new price sits at $161 per ton.  The Other Hay category, which covers hay other than alfalfa, was up $13 year over year, sitting at $130 per ton.  The highest ...

As we wrap up this week’s look at Northwest Farm Credit Services’ snapshots of area commodities, we take a look at hay and wheat.  Karen Witt, NWFCS Vice President said wheat producers should expect slightly profitable returns this season, with above-average wheat production.   “Conver...

In May, the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance announced their second round of research funding through the Alfalfa Checkoff.  NAFA President Beth Nelson said they looked at projects that would benefit growers nationwide, not just in one specific region or microclimate.  She sa...

As we wrap up our five part series on Northwest Farm Credit Services’ 4th quarter outlook, we take a look at wheat and hay.  Karen Witt, Vice President of NWFCS said wheat prices remain around break even on large global stocks.   "India, a large buyer of pulse crops instituted import tariffs on peas, lentils and garbanzo beans, all grown in rotation with wheat reduced exports to India will le

It’s not often you hear of a community college in the agriculture breeding business.  However, Columbia Basin College in Pasco has a trio of breeding programs, focuses on alfalfa, soybeans and peppers.  CBC’s Tim Woodward said they worked with alfalfa for several years.   “So, we’re d...

All three Northwest states saw increases in hay production last year according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.   The largest increase in alfalfa hay production came from Oregon which jumped production by 420,000 tons. Idaho and...

Challenging weather in September and October hit the Northwest hay industry in 2016.  Northwest Farm Credit Services Michael Stolp says Washington and Oregon Hay markets and grower profitability remained weighed down by strong inventories and challenging export conditions.  ...

WSU has released the results from the 2016 alfalfa variety trials which showed the top three varieties producing nearly a half-ton per acre year over a period of three years.   For the trials, 17 companies entered seeds for the university to test with three conventional trials near Othello, and three Roundup Ready and three conventional near Pasco.  ...

The USDA released their most recently look at production throughout the country and the Northwest is seeing some increases in key commodities.   Alfalfa hay is expected to jump 22 percent in Oregon, and seven percent in Washington with yields at nearly 1.9 mi...