Hay prices remain mostly steady
Hay market prices remain mostly steady for alfalfa and steady for grass hay, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, July 27.
Trade remains steady, although some area trades have slowed, demand remains good. Rains this season have produced a lot of grinding quality hay which is contributing to a softening of that market, while dairy quality hay remains difficult to come by. This week’s hot dry weather has allowed grass hay producers to attack the prairie hay, with most reporting an average yield. Recent rains have confined abnormally dry conditions to a wide band bisecting the state from the north central border to the south-central border along with continued dryness in the northwest.
Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis.
Southwest:
Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady to $5 lower; movement slow to 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, $175-$185. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $200-$210. Brome grass hay, large rounds, $115-$125. For the week ending July 24, 10,539 tons of grinding alfalfa and 375 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, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $165-$175 delivered. Ground and delivered, $190-$200. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $220-$230, 17% protein, $230-$250, dehydrated 17% protein, $305-$315. Brome large rounds, $65-$75. Good oat hay, 3×4 squares, $110-$120. For the week ending July 24, 5,347 tons of grinding alfalfa and 275 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.
Southeast:
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa steady, grass hay mostly steady, movement slow to moderate. Horse or goat alfalfa, $240-$250. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV. Stock cow, $155-$165. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds none reported. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $125-$135, good 3×3 squares, $110-$120, good, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $90-$110, large rounds, $60-$70. Brome, good, small squares, $125-$135, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $110-$120, large rounds, $75-$85. Wheat straw, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $60-$80. For the week ending July 24, 2,927 tons of grass hay was reported bought/sold.
Northwest:
Dairy/grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $245-$255. Dairy, Premium/Supreme 1.05-1.10/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good, $165-$175. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $140-$150 with an instance at $155-$160. 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, grass hay 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, $5-$6/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, old crop, $90-$100, large rounds, $60-$70. Brome, small squares, $6-$7/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $120-$135, large rounds, $85-$100. Wheat straw, small squares, $5-$6/bale, large 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $85-$100. For the week ending July 24, 788 tons of grinding alfalfa and 150 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.
Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Manhattan, Kansas.
