Hay prices mostly steady

Hay market prices were mostly steady across the board, on limited test, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, June 22.

Demand remains good for alfalfa, and folks are relieved that lots of hay is getting baled up. Most report high yields, 2 to 3 tons/acre, but lower quality for this first cutting, with only a few folks able to put up dairy quality hay. Second cutting won’t be far behind, with a handful already getting started. Prairie hay reportedly is short and needs a drink and brome looks great but is also in need of some precipitation. Prices are an average and are given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, grinding alfalfa steady; movement moderate. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $260-$280. Dairy 1.05-1.10/point RFV, supreme, $195-$250, premium, $180-$205, good, $155-$185. Stock or dry cow, $175-$185. Grinding alfalfa, $180-$190. New crop grinding alfalfa $180-$190 with instances at $200. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $200-$210. New crop ground and delivered, $205-$215 with an instance at $230-$240. Grass hay, large 4×4 squares, $95-$105. For the week ending June 19, 10,632 tons of grinding alfalfa and 825 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

South central:

Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady; movement slow. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $255-$275. Dairy 1.05-1.10/point RFV, supreme, $195-$250, premium, $180-$205, good, $155-$185. Good stock cow, $185-$195. Current fair/good grinding alfalfa, $160-$175 delivered. New crop, $160-$175 at the edge. Ground and delivered, $180-$190 with an instance at $200-$210. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $215-$225, 17% protein, $220-$230, dehydrated 17% protein, $305-$315. Bluestem grass hay, 3×3 squares, $100-$110, large rounds, $70-$75. For the week ending June 19, 7,753 tons of grinding alfalfa and 250 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

Southeast:

Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa, grass hay steady, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $230-$240. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV. Stock cow, $155-$165. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $140-$160. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $115-$125, good 3×3 squares, $100-$120, good 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $90-$115, large rounds, $60-$70. Good brome, small squares, none reported, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $90-$115. Wheat straw, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $60-$80. For the week ending June 19, 1,130 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 1.05-1.10/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good, $165-$175. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $135-$145 with an instance at $150. Ground and delivered, not a large enough sample to report. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$70. Wheat straw, large squares none reported.

North central/northeast:

Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, grass hay mostly steady, movement slow to moderate. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $9-$10/bale. Dairy 1.05-1.10/point RFV, supreme, $195-$250, premium, $180-$205, good, $155-$185. Stock cow, $160-$170. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa large rounds, $100-$120, 3×4 squares, $120-$145, ground and delivered, $160-$170. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $6-$7/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $90-$100, large rounds, $60-$70. Brome, small squares, $7-$8/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $105-$115, large rounds, $90-$95. For the week ending June 19, 1,463 tons of grinding alfalfa and 1,245 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.

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