Alfalfa Market Data, Quality and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-09Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Global production

250M MT

2022/23

Market value

$90B

Producing countries tracked

6

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

5

Trade corridors

5

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates for United States alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture production in 2025, published in January 2026. Dry-hay area, yield and production are separate from the 17-state haylage and greenchop series. These are dated crop measures—not a current physical offer, a futures quote or a live delivered price.

United States alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture dry-hay harvested area

14.7

million acres · crop year 2025

United States alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture dry-hay yield

3.42

tons per acre · crop year 2025

United States alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture dry-hay production

50.213

million tons · crop year 2025

Alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture haylage and greenchop production in the 17 reporting states

16.5

million tons at 13 percent moisture equivalent · crop year 2025

Dry hay, haylage, processed feed and planting seed are separate products

Dry baled hay is traded on a cured forage basis, while haylage and greenchop are higher-moisture products with different storage, handling and measurement conventions. Cubes, pellets and meal add processing, particle-size, density and composition requirements; planting seed adds purity, germination, treatment and varietal-labeling requirements. Atlas keeps product form, intended use, moisture basis and package or bulk format attached before comparing crop figures, quality evidence, price or trade flows.

Quality designations combine laboratory factors with visual condition

The USDA Hay Quality Designation Guidelines cited here apply to alfalfa for domestic livestock use with not more than 10 percent grass. They organize Supreme, Premium, Good, Fair and Utility quality using approximate acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, relative feed value, total digestible nutrients and crude protein ranges. USDA also states that quantitative factors should be used with visual appearance and intended use. A designation is therefore not transferable without the sample, dry-matter basis, laboratory method, maturity, leafiness, color, damage, weeds and sale description.

Crop totals do not determine a delivered alfalfa price

USDA NASS estimated 50.213 million tons of United States alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture dry-hay production from 14.7 million harvested acres in 2025, at 3.42 tons per acre. The separate 17-state haylage and greenchop series reported 16.5 million tons at a 13 percent moisture equivalent. Those dated aggregates do not define product form, quality designation, test results, cutting, condition, bale format, origin, destination or delivery terms. A physical price still requires a defined lot and current permitted evidence.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are dry alfalfa hay and alfalfa haylage interchangeable?

No. Dry hay and haylage have different moisture, storage, handling and measurement bases. Their tonnage and prices must retain the product form and moisture basis.

Does relative feed value alone determine alfalfa quality?

No. USDA's designation guidelines combine approximate laboratory factors and state that they should be used with visual appearance and intended use. Sample, method, maturity, condition and damage still matter.

What does the 50.213 million ton figure represent?

It is USDA NASS's estimate of United States alfalfa and alfalfa-mixture dry-hay production for 2025. It excludes the separate higher-moisture haylage and greenchop series and is not a current physical price.

Which fields make physical alfalfa offers comparable?

Product form, intended use, alfalfa percentage and grass mix, cutting and maturity, sample and laboratory method, dry matter, ADF, NDF, RFV or another declared index, TDN, crude protein, visual condition, damage and weeds, bale or package format, crop year, origin, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.