Hay
US production, yield, acres and prices received by farmers
120.5M tons
production, 2026 forecast
120.5M tons
production, 2026 forecast
US farmers are expected to harvest 120.5 million tons of hay in 2026 (forecast), down 2.0% from 2025. The yield is 2.42 tons per acre (forecast). Texas grows the most, 7.8% of the US total. Farmers received $190.00 per ton in Aug 2026.
Updated Oct 10, 2026 · data 2000 to 2026
Production
120.5M tons
-2.0% vs 2025 · 2026 forecast
Yield
2.42 tons/acre
-2.4% vs 2025 · 2026 forecast
Area planted
-
Price received
$190.00/ton
+18.0% vs a year earlier · Aug 2026
Over the years
United States, 2000 to 2026
Production
tons, by year
Yield
tons per acre harvested
Acres planted and harvested
Acres by year
Value of production
US dollars, by year
The orange dot is this crop year's forecast; it is replaced by the final estimate after the harvest.
Prices received by farmers
Average price farmers received each month, dollars per ton
Monthly price received
Jan 2000 to Aug 2026
Aug 2026
$190.00/ton
+18.0% vs a year earlier
2025/26 marketing year
$161.00/ton
-3.0% vs the year before
The average price of all sales by farmers, not a futures or cash market price.
By state
Production of hay in each state, 2025, tons
Production by state
Click a state for its Local Economy page
States with the most hay
And the share of the US total
| State | Production (tons) | Share of US | Change vs year before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9,590,000 | 7.8% | -19.8% |
| Oklahoma | 6,609,000 | 5.4% | +12.1% |
| Missouri | 6,070,000 | 4.9% | -2.3% |
| Kansas | 6,062,000 | 4.9% | +57.0% |
| South Dakota | 5,704,000 | 4.6% | -2.3% |
| Nebraska | 5,569,000 | 4.5% | -9.2% |
| Kentucky | 5,345,000 | 4.3% | +6.9% |
| North Dakota | 4,486,000 | 3.6% | +31.3% |
| California | 4,424,000 | 3.6% | -4.7% |
| Montana | 4,296,000 | 3.5% | -10.8% |
| Minnesota | 4,280,000 | 3.5% | +15.1% |
| Idaho | 4,183,000 | 3.4% | -8.4% |
| Iowa | 3,691,000 | 3.0% | +5.7% |
| Tennessee | 3,615,000 | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| Wisconsin | 3,473,000 | 2.8% | -11.0% |
The 15 states with the most. Download the CSV for all 49.
Questions and answers
How much hay does the US produce?
120.5 million tons is the 2026 forecast, down 2.0% from the year before. The 2025 crop was worth $17.2 billion.
Which state grows the most hay?
Texas, with 9.59 million tons in 2025 (7.8% of the US), followed by Oklahoma and Missouri.
What is the average hay yield per acre?
2.42 tons per acre is the 2026 forecast, compared with 2.48 tons/acre the year before.
What price do farmers get for hay?
$190.00 per ton on average in Aug 2026, up 18.0% from a year earlier. For the 2025/26 marketing year the average was $161.00 per ton.
Official government statistics since 2000, updated weekly. Production, yield and harvested area of corn and sorghum are for grain; planted area is for all uses. Empty values were not published; they are not zero.