Based on October 1 conditions, alfalfa hay production in Wyoming is forecast to total 1.13 million tons this year, down 41 percent from the 1.89 million tons produced in 2020, according to the October 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. If realized, this would be the lowest alfalfa hay production since 968,000 tons in 1985. Wyoming farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 450,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year, down 160,000 acres from 2020 and the lowest since 2013. Alfalfa hay yield is expected to average 2.50 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 3.10 tons per acre and the August forecast of 2.80 tons per acre. Producers expect to harvest 490,000 acres of other hay in 2021, up 20,000 acres from last year. Other hay production is forecast at 686,000 tons, down 14 percent from a year ago. If realized, this would be the lowest other hay production since 648,000 tons in 2013. Other hay yield is expected to average 1.40 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 1.70 tons per acre and the August forecast of 1.50 tons per acre. If realized, this would be the lowest other hay yield since 1.20 tons per acre in 2013. 

Sugarbeet production in Wyoming is forecast at 897,000 tons, down 2 percent from the 912,000 tons produced in 2020. Growers expect to harvest 31,700 acres this year, compared with 30,800 acres a year ago. Yields are expected to average 28.3 tons per acre, down 0.3 ton per acre from the September 1 forecast and down from last year’s yield of 29.6 tons per acre. As of October 3, Wyoming’s sugarbeet crop condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, and 62 percent good. Harvest of sugarbeets was estimated at 48 percent complete, compared with 26 percent last year and the 5-year average of 19 percent. 

Dry edible bean production for 2021 is forecast at 353,000 hundredweight, down 33 percent from the 528,000 hundredweight produced a year earlier. If realized, this would be the lowest dry bean production since 339,000 hundredweight were produced in 1993. Yields are expected to average 2,350 pounds per acre, down 70 pounds per acre from the August 1 forecast but up 190 pounds per acre from last year. Growers are estimated to have planted 17,000 acres of dry edible beans, down 12,000 acres from last year, and expect to harvest 15,000 acres this year, down 9,500 acres from the 24,500 acres harvested last year. If realized, this would be the lowest planted and harvested dry bean acreage in Wyoming since 1926. As of October 3, Wyoming’s dry edible bean harvest was estimated to be 84 percent complete, compared with 86 percent last year and the 5-year average of 74 percent.