Hay market prices mostly steady for all hay types

Hay market prices were mostly steady for all hay types; demand remains strong for alfalfa as supplies remain extremely limited in the southwest, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, March 16.

However, thoughts are turning to the new hay season, with several contributors reporting new crop hay sales in the southwest region. Prices given reflect average price, and are given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady; movement moderate. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $260-$280. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV, supreme, $185-$237, premium, $170-$195, good, $150-$178.50. Stock or dry cow, $165-$175. Grinding alfalfa, $170-$180, with an instance at $190-$200. New crop 2021 grinder hay, $165-$175 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $180-$195 with instances at $215-$225. Grass hay, large 4×4 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, $70-$80. Sudan, large rounds, $75-$85. Wheat straw, small squares, $3.50-$4.50/bale, large 3×4 squares, $80-$90. For the week ending March 13, 15,921 tons of grinding alfalfa and 1,508 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $171.42, up $5.01 from the previous month, usage was 538 tons/day, down 8% and total usage was 15,077 tons.

South central:

Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady; movement moderate. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $255-$275. Dairy, 1/point RFV, supreme, $185-$225, premium, $170-$195, good, $150-$178. Stock cow, $155-$165. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $145-$155 delivered, with instances at $160 delivered. Ground and delivered $160-$170 with an instance at $190. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $200-$215, 17% protein, $210-$220, dehydrated 17% protein, $305-$310. Bluestem grass hay, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, $60-$90. Brome, large 3×4 squares, $100-$120, large rounds, $95-$100. Teff, large 3×4 squares, $155-$165, large rounds, $120-$130. Sudan, large rounds, $80-$85. For the week ending March 13 7,131 tons of grinding alfalfa and 441 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $160.07, up $3.98 from the previous month, usage was 272 tons/day, down 2% and total usage was 7,898 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, $135-$145, or $160-$170 delivered. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $120-$125, good 3×3 squares, $100-$125, good, 3×4 squares, $90-$120, large 4×4 squares, $90-$110, large rounds, $65-$75. Good brome, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $95-$125, large rounds, $65-$80. Wheat straw, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $60-$80. For the week ending March 13, 2,306 tons of grass hay was reported bought/sold.

Northwest:

Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, grinding alfalfa steady; movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $220-$230. Dairy, premium/supreme 1/point RFV. Fair/good stock cow, $145-$155. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $120-$140. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$70.

North central/northeast:

Dairy alfalfa, grass hay, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady; movement slow to moderate. 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, $140-$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, $75-$80. Wheat straw, small squares, $5-$6/bale, large 4×4 squares, $75-$85, $100-$110 delivered, large rounds, $65-$75. For the week ending March 13, 2,534 tons of grinding alfalfa and 861 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

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