Hay growing calendar

6 regions tracked across northern and southern hemispheres. 6 critical weather-sensitive windows globally.

Annual cycle by region

Each row tracks one production region across the calendar year. Amber bars mark critical weather-sensitive windows where yield outcomes are determined.

PLANTINGVEGETATIVECRITICAL / FLOWERINGHARVEST
Region
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Western US irrigated alfalfa belts (California, Arizona, Idaho, Washington)
Western US alfalfa – early cut harvest
Mediterranean Spain and Italy forage regions
Southern Australian cereal and oaten hay belt
Southern Australian hay – harvest
Northern China alfalfa and temperate grass areas

Why these windows matter

Hay yields are determined disproportionately during a small number of weather-sensitive windows. Across the 6 production regions tracked here, 6 windows show outsized sensitivity to rainfall, temperature, or storm damage. Buyers who track these windows can position contracts ahead of price moves driven by yield uncertainty.

The most consequential weather risks for hay are concentrated in specific months. Drought and irrigation water curtailment in key exporting basins Ocean freight and container availability constraints These forces drive the seasonal volatility that shows up in futures markets weeks or months later.

The calendar above is structural, not predictive — it shows where and when hay grows under normal conditions. Weather anomalies (El Niño, La Niña, regional droughts) shift these windows by weeks and compound across regions. ATLAS tracks these anomalies in its supply-risk data and surfaces them on the hay risk surface.

Find hay suppliers active in October–December (Southern Australian hay – harvest)

ATLAS lists verified hay suppliers with current-season inventory and capacity. Filter by origin, harvest window, and compliance posture in one view.

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