Hay prices mostly steady for alfalfa
Hay market prices remained mostly steady for alfalfa and steady for grass hay, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Dec. 6.
The south central region seems to have an undertone of softness to the market. Although there were no price adjustments, folks report that there seems to be plenty of hay for now and that there have been quite a few folks wanting to sell hay. All other regions pricing remains firm for now, with concerns of higher operating cost next year and worsening drought. There were a few large sales of hay last week but in general trades remained slow. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest:
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa steady, ground and delivered steady, movement slow. 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, $180-$190. Grinding alfalfa, $175-$190. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $195-$205. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8/bale, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $85-$95, large rounds, $75/bale. Wheat straw, large rounds, $60-$75. For the week ending Dec. 4, 12,106 tons of grinding alfalfa and 275 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.
South central:
Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, grinding alfalfa steady, ground/delivered steady to $5 lower, 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, $170-$180. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $160-$170 delivered. Ground and delivered, $185-$195. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $225-$235, 17% protein, $240-$250, dehydrated 17% protein, $310-$315. Bluestem grass hay: , large rounds, $85-$95, large squares, $100-$110. Brome, large rounds, $100-$105, large squares, $110-$120. Good oat hay, large rounds, $120-$125, good 3×4 squares, $130-$135. Sudan, large rounds, $90-$100. For the week ending Dec. 4, 8,000 tons of grinding alfalfa and 557 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.
Southeast:
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa steady, grass hay steady; movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $250-$260. Dairy 1-1.05/point RFV. Stock cow, $160-$170. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Ground and delivered, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $120-$130, good 3×3 squares, $115-$125, good, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$120, large rounds, $70-$85. Good brome, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $115-$125, large rounds, $85-$95. Wheat straw, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $60-$80. For the week ending Dec. 4, 894 tons of grass hay was reported bought/sold.
Northwest:
Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered steady, grinding alfalfa steady to 5 higher, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, small squares, $300-$400 delivered. Dairy, premium/supreme 1.05-1.10/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $170-$180. Oat hay, 3×3 squares, $135-$145. Wheat straw, large squares, $75-$85.
North central/northeast:
Dairy alfalfa, grass hay steady, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered steady to $5 higher, movement slow. 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, $135-$145; Ground and delivered, $160-$170. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $6.50-$7/bale, large 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $130-$140 delivered, good, large rounds, $90-$100. Brome, small squares, $7.25-$8/bale, 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $125-$135, large rounds, $90-$105. Wheat straw, small squares, $5-$6/bale, large 3×4 to 4×4 squares, $85-$100. Certified weed free grass mulch, large rounds, $80-$90. For the week ending Dec. 4, 485 tons of grinding alfalfa and, 175 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought/sold.
Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market Service, Manhattan, Kansas.
