The Iowa Department of Agriculture is encouraging Iowa hay and straw producers to register or update their listing on the Iowa Hay & Straw Directory. The directory lists Iowa producers with hay and straw for sale, as well as organizations and businesses associated with promoting and marketing quality hay and straw.

HAY ACRE INCREASE: The 2015 acreage survey report released June 30 shows acres to be harvested for hay in Iowa this year estimated at 1.17 million acres, up 15,000 from March intentions and 10,000 acres above 2014. Of the total, USDA says 820,000 acres of alfalfa will be harvested and 345,000 acres of other hay.

"The directory has been a great tool for both buyers and sellers and we hope farmers will take the time to review and update their information so that it remains a valuable resource," says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. "This directory can serve as a critical link for those people who are producing hay or straw and those looking to buy, so we encourage Iowans to take advantage of this free directory."

Producers and buyers urged to take advantage of free directory
The listing is available to interested buyers throughout the nation, however only sellers from within Iowa can be included on the list.

Names and contact information are gathered throughout the year with added emphasis now during the hay production season, because hay harvest has started. Sections within the Hay & Straw Directory include "Forage for Sale," "Forage Auctions," "Hay Associations," "Forage Dealers," "Hay Grinders" and "Custom Balers."

Farmers interested in listing their hay and straw for sale should visit the Iowa Ag Department's website IowaAgriculture.gov. An application form can be found by going to the "Bureaus" link and then selecting "Agricultural Diversification and Market Development." Then click on "Hay & Straw Directory" on the right side of the page under "Directories." For people who don't have Internet access, call the Hay/Straw Hotline at 800-383-5079. The state ag department will fax or send you a printed copy of the application to be filled out.

Iowa's weed seed-free forage and mulch certification program
The Iowa Department of Agriculture is also supporting the Iowa Crop Improvement Association's "Iowa Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage and Mulch Certification Program." Through this program Iowa forage and mulch producers can take advantage of many emerging market opportunities for "Certified Weed Free" products. For more specific information on this program producers should contact the Iowa Crop Improvement Association at 515-294-6921. More information can also be found by visiting iowacrop.org/Forage_Mulch.htm.

In other hay-related news, on June 30 USDA released its annual Planted Acreage survey results for 2015 crops. The survey was taken around June 1. The report shows acreage to be harvested for hay in Iowa this year is estimated at 1.17 million acres, up 15,000 from the USDA March planting intentions survey and 10,000 acres above 2014. Of the total, USDA says 820,000 acres of alfalfa will be harvested and 345,000 acres of other hay will be cut for dry hay in Iowa this year.