Alfalfa, a perennial plant, is the most important hay and pasture plant in North America. Hay is the sixth most valuable commodity produced in Washington, with 790,000 acres harvested in 2004. Alfalfa hay makes up about 65% of the total hay grown in the state. The value of alfalfa hay alone approached $252M in 2004. Washington ranks 21st in the nation in production of alfalfa, with an average yield per acre of over 5 tons. Alfalfa yields in Franklin County and lower Grant County have reached up to 10 tons per acre.
