Hay prices steady, demand remains strong

Hay market prices were steady, demand remained strong and movement only 105 tons less than the previous week, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Dec. 22.

Alfalfa continues to strengthen, across the state, and is hard to find according to contributors in the southwest. Next report will be issued Jan. 5, 2021. Prices given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady; movement good to moderate. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $250-$260. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV, supreme, $185-$237, premium, $170-$195, good, $150-$178.50. Stock or dry cow, $155-$165. Grinding alfalfa, $150-$160, with instances at $165-$170. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $160-$175 with an instance at $180-$195. Grass hay, small squares, none reported, large 4×4 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, none reported. Sudan, large rounds, $85-$90. Sorghum, large rounds, $80-$90. Corn stalks, ground and delivered, $70-$75. Wheat straw, small squares, $3.50-$4.50/bale, large 3×4 squares, $80-$90. For the week ending Dec. 19, 7,794 tons of grinding alfalfa and 2,975 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold. The average paid by feedlots on Dec. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $156.33, up $1.23 from the previous month, usage was 617 tons/day, up 10% and total usage was 18,502 tons.

South central:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered, alfalfa pellets, steady; movement moderate. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $255-$275. Dairy, 1/point RFV, supreme, $185-$225, premium, $170-$195, good, $150-$178. Stock cow, $150-$160. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $135-$145 delivered. Ground and delivered, $150-$165. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $190-$205, 17% protein, $200-$210, dehydrated 17% protein, $305-$310. Bluestem grass hay, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, $60-$90. Brome, large 4×4 squares, $100-$120, large rounds, $95-$100. Teff, large 3×4 squares, $135-$145, large rounds, $120-$130. Sudan, large rounds, $75-$85. Milo ground and delivered, $85-$95. Corn stalks, large squares, $65, large rounds, $60. Wheat straw, large 4×4 squares, $65-$75. For the week ending Dec. 19, 7,589 tons of grinding alfalfa and 170 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold. The average paid by feedlots on Dec. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $136.12, up $3.49 from the previous month, usage was 303 tons/day, up 2% and total usage was 9,093 tons.

Southeast:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, grass hay steady; movement slow to moderate. Horse or goat alfalfa, $230-$240. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV. Stock cow, $150-$160. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $130-$145 delivered. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $120-$125, good 3×3 squares, $100-$125, good, 3×4 squares, $100-$120, large 4×4 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, $70-$80. Good brome, small squares, none reported, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $95-$125, large rounds, $75-$85. Wheat straw, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $60-$70. For the week ending Dec. 19, 1,640 tons of grass hay was reported bought/sold.

Northwest:

Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, grinding alfalfa steady to $10 higher; movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $220-$230. Premium/supreme dairy, 1/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good, $145-$155. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $120-$140. Ground and delivered locally to feedlots and dairies, none reported. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$70. Wheat straw, large squares, none reported.

North central/northeast:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered, grass hay, steady; movement slow. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $9-$10/bale. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV, supreme, $185-$237, premium, $170-$195, good, $150-$178.50. Stock cow, $150-$160. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, $115-$125. Ground and delivered, $130-$150. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $5.50-$6.50/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $100-$105, large rounds, $60-$90. Brome, small squares, $6.50-$7.50/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $110-$120, large rounds, $75-$85. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$65. Wheat straw, small squares, $5-$6/bale, large 4×4 squares, $75-$85, $100-$110 delivered, large rounds, $65-$75. For the week ending Dec. 19, 1,443 tons of grinding alfalfa and 367 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

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