Yield (all hay)5.40 tons/acre (2025)5-yr median 5.15 +4.9%
Yield (alfalfa)6.80 tons/acre (2025)5-yr median 7.20 -5.6%
Yield (grass)3.60 tons/acre (2025)5-yr median 3.30 +9.1%
Acres harvested860K acres (2026)5-yr median 830K +3.6%
Production4.42M tons (2025)5-yr median 4.63M -4.5%
On-farm stocks (May 1)340K tons (2026)5-yr median 280K +21.4%
On-farm stocks (Dec 1)1.60M tons (2025)5-yr median 1.40M +14.3%
NASS does not publish weekly hay crop condition for California.
ALFALFA
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Good | Large Square 3x4 | $265/ton | $265–$265/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Good | Small Square 3-tie | $223/ton | $223–$223/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Premium | Large Square 3x4 | $230/ton | $230–$230/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Premium | Small Square 3-tie | $13/bale | $13–$13/bale | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Premium | Small Square 3-tie | $230/ton | $230–$230/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Supreme | Large Square 3x4 | $250/ton | $250–$250/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Utility – Fair | Large Square 3x4 | $160/ton | $160–$160/ton | 1 |
COOL-SEASON GRASS
WARM-SEASON GRASS
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Premium | Small Square 3-tie | $258/ton | $258–$258/ton | 1 |
SMALL-GRAIN HAY
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Good | Large Square 3x4 | $165/ton | $165–$165/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Good | Small Square 3-tie | $9/bale | $9–$9/bale | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Ungraded | Large Square (generic) | $110/ton | $110–$110/ton | 1 |
| California Direct Hay Report | CA | Ungraded | Small Square | $6/bale | $6–$6/bale | 1 |