Hay trade slow to moderate

Hay market trade is slow to moderate and alfalfa prices remain steady, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Feb. 18.

Current trades are mostly on previously contracted hay with very few new sales reported. However, there are lots of folks looking to sell both grass hay and grinding alfalfa. The pattern of winter weather to warm up continues, dropping just enough snow to make a muddy mess when the temperatures rise.

Southwest: Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered, grinding alfalfa steady; movement slow to moderate. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $240-$250. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV, supreme, $185-$226; premium, $170-$195; good, $160-$170. Stock or dry cow, $160-$165. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $100-$115, Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $150-$160 with an instance at $165. Sudan, large rounds, $55-$65. Wheat straw, large rounds, $40-$50, large squares, $65-$75 delivered. For the week ending Feb. 15, 10,704 tons of grinding alfalfa and 2,266 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold. The average paid by feedlots on Feb. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $153.61, down $2.62 from the previous month, usage was 617 ton/day, down 4.5% and total usage was 19,137 tons.

South central: Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered, alfalfa pellets steady; movement slow to moderate. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $255-$275. Dairy, 1-1.05/point RFV with an instance at 1.10/point RFV, supreme, $195-$225; premium, $175-$200; good, $165-$175. Stock cow, $130-$150. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $90-$105. Ground and delivered locally to feedlots, $135-$145. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $200-$205, 17% protein, $205-$210, dehydrated 17% protein, $300-$310. Good bluestem grass hay, small squares, $7-$8/bale, large rounds, $60-$70, large squares, $75-$85. Brome, small squares, $7-$8/bale, large rounds, $100-$110, lesser quality, $70-$80. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$70. Oat hay, large rounds, $80-$85. Teff, medium to large squares, $140-$160. Wheat straw, small squares, $5.50-$6.50/bale, large squares, $70-$75, large rounds, $55-$65. For the week ending Feb. 15, 5,171 tons of grinding alfalfa and 693 ton of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold. The average paid by feedlots on Feb. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $142.31, up $8.19 from the previous month, usage was 277 ton/day, down 17% and total usage was 8,581 tons.

Southeast: Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered, grass hay steady; movement slow to moderate. Horse or goat alfalfa, $230-$250. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV. Stock cow, $160-$170. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $115-$125. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $125-$140, good, medium squares, $110-$125, large squares, $95-$110 with an instance at $120, large rounds, $60-$65. Good brome, small squares, $125-$150, medium to large squares, $120-$130, large rounds, $70-$80. Wheat straw, medium and large squares, $60-$75, large rounds, $55-$65. For the week ending Feb. 15, 2,151 tons of grass hay was reported bought/sold.

Northwest: Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady; movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $205-$215. Premium/supreme dairy, 1-1.05/point RFV. Fair/good stock cow, $150-$160. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $100-$110. Ground and delivered locally to feedlots and dairies, $125-$135.

North central/northeast: Dairy/grinding alfalfa ground/delivered, grass hay steady; movement slow. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $9.50-$10.50/bale. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV, supreme, $185-$210; premium, $170-$195; good, $160-$170. Stock cow, $150-$160. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, $100-$115. Ground and delivered, $130-$160. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $7-$8/bale, medium to large squares, $85-$100, large rounds, $70-$80. Brome, small squares, $7.50-$8.50/bale, medium to large squares, $115-$125, large rounds, $75-$90. Sudan, large rounds, $55-$65. Wheat straw, small squares, $5-$6/bale delivered, large squares, $100-$110 delivered, large rounds, $60-$70. For the week ending Feb. 15, 863 tons of grinding alfalfa and 228 ton of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Manhattan, Kansas.