United States Forage Exports to Japan and Korea

Bxports are becoming an important market for the western USA forage producer. Forage products exported are: lucerne hay and cubes, timothy hay, oat hay, sudangrass hay, and perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass straw, Demand for forage products from Japan is now playing an increasing role on West Coast markets. In 1991, Japan Imported 720 214 t of lucerne hay cubes, The USA supplies approximately 77% of these lucerne cubes and Canada about 21 %, Baled hay imports for Japan totalled 1 038 297 t in 1991. 87% of these hay products came from the USA. Total hay and cube imports for Japan in 1991 totalled 1 7 S8 S 11 t. The USA shipped approximately 1 4S9 S78 t or 83% of these imports to Japan that year. The USA supplied over 71% of Japan's total forage imports in 1991. The Korean market will not provide significant sales for many years, Reasons for the slow development are high costs, tariffs, and taxes.