Alfalfa prices steady

Hay market prices were mostly steady across the state, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, May 4.

Alfalfa hay price was steady in the southwest region but steady to $10 higher in the south-central region, as availability of alfalfa hay becomes more limited. Grass hay prices remained mostly steady and demand for all hay was light to moderate as cattle return to pastures. Folks have been busy in the fields planting corn and working bean ground as well as spraying for bugs. The late April cold snap didn’t seem so to set producers back too far, maybe a week or two at most and some have reported they are ready to cut as soon as they get a good stretch of open weather. Many producers in the western third of the state report they could use some precipitation as it is starting to get dry, but the 7-day forecast does not look promising.

Prices reflect an average and are given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady; movement slow to 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, $175-$185. Current grinding alfalfa, $170-$180. New crop grinding alfalfa, $170-$180 with an instance at $195. Current ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $200-$220. New crop ground and delivered, $190-$205. Grass hay, large 4×4 squares, $95-$105. Sudan, large rounds, $75-$85. Wheat straw, small squares, $3.50-$4.50/bale, large 3×4 squares, $80-$90. For the week ending May 1, 13,327 tons of grinding alfalfa and 855 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

South central:

Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, steady; grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady to $10 higher; movement slow. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $255-$275. Dairy, 1/point RFV, supreme, $185-$225, premium, $170-$195, Good, $150-$178. Good stock cow, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $160-$175 delivered. Ground and delivered, $170-$185 with an instance at $190-$200. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $200-$215, 17% protein, $210-$220, dehydrated 17% protein, $305-$310. Bluestem grass hay, 3×3 square, $115-$125, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, $70-$80. Brome, large 3×4 squares, $90-$100, large rounds, $90-$95. Teff, large rounds, $135-$145. Sudan, large rounds, $90-$100. Corn stalks, $65-$75. Wheat straw, $60-$70. For the week ending May 1, 6,034 tons of grinding alfalfa and 584 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

Southeast:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, grass hay mostly steady, movement slow to moderate. Horse or goat alfalfa, $230-$240. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV. Stock cow, $155-$165. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $135-$145. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $125-$135, good 3×3 squares, $100-$120, good 3×4 squares, $90-$120, large 4×4 squares, $90-$110, large rounds, $60-$70. Brome, good, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $90-$120, large rounds, $70-$80. Wheat straw, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $60-$80. For the week ending May 1, 1,730 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. Stock cow, fair/good, $165-$175. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $130-$140. Ground and delivered, not a large enough sample to report. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$70.

North central/Northeast:

Dairy alfalfa, grass hay, grinding alfalfa, steady; ground/delivered steady to $5 higher; 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, $160-$170. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, $120-$130. Ground and delivered, $160-$170. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $6.50-$7.50/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, $105-$115, large rounds, $80-$90. 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 May 1, 1,859 tons of grinding alfalfa and 513 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.