Taylor Gombos
Administrative Marketing Associate
ACX Pacific Northwest, Inc.

The 2013 water outlook for hay growing in the western United States varies from region to region. Some areas have positive outlooks while other areas face full-on water shortages and drought.

In general, water shortages in any farming region can drive up the price of all crops including forage products which require large volumes of water to produce.

Water shortages drive up the cost of water. Expensive water means fewer irrigable acres. Ultimately, water availability determines the amount and variety of hay (e.g. alfalfa, timothy, Sudangrass) to be grown in any given region.