Hay prices increasing

Compared to the last report, overall producers, grinders, and pellet mills increased the price of their products Oct. 1 citing greater demand and higher input costs, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Oct. 11.

Each week the expectation is that the hay price will plateau and each week we see higher prices. With limited supplies, it is increasingly difficult to find the hay needed to cover their needs and must travel farther from Kansas to find it. As one contributor to the hay report put it, “planners have covered themselves, while the gamblers haven’t made a move yet.” Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered steady, grinding alfalfa steady to $5 higher, movement slow to moderate. Supreme horse alfalfa, small squares, new crop, $10-$12/bale. Dairy 1.30-1.40/point RFV, supreme, $240-$280, premium, $230-$260, good, $195-$240. Good, stock or dry cow, $290-$300. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $285-$300, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $285-$300. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $300-$325. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $170-$180 delivered. Sudan, large rounds, $145-$155, large 3×4 squares, $145-$155. Teff, large rounds, $155-$165. For the week ending Oct. 8, 5,615 tons of grinding alfalfa and 150 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South central:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa $5-$10 higher, ground and delivered steady to $30 higher, alfalfa pellets $15-$25 higher, movement moderate. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $255-$275. Dairy 1.30-1.40/point RFV, supreme, $240-$280, premium, $230-$260, good, $195-$240. Good stock cow, $270-$280. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $250-$260 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $255-$265 delivered. Ground and delivered, $280-$295. Alfalfa/soybean mix, ground and delivered, $240-$295. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $265-$300, 17% protein, $290-$315, dehydrated 17% protein, $310-$315. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$165, large 3×4 squares, $135-$145, large rounds, $100-$115. Brome, small squares, $9/bale, 3×4 squares, $145-$155, large rounds, $135-$140, medium 3×3 squares, $175-$185. Sudan, large rounds, $160-$170. Soybean stalks, large rounds, $145-$155. Soybeans, large rounds, $150-$200. Wheat straw, $115-$125. For the week ending Oct. 8, 8,143 tons of grinding alfalfa and 950 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa steady, bluestem grass hay steady, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, $260-$270. Dairy 1.30-1.40/point RFV. Good, stock cow, $220-$230. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $140-$165, medium 3×3 squares, $130-$150, good 3×4 squares, $145-$160, large rounds, $120-$130, Brome, large rounds, $140-$150, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $150-$175. Wheat straw, large rounds, old contracts, $60-$70. For the week ending Oct. 8, 1,229 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest:

Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa steady, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, small squares, $300-400 delivered, 3×4 squares 250-260. Dairy, Premium/Supreme 1.30-1.40/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good 240-280. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, 230-240.

North central/northeast:

Dairy alfalfa steady, ground/delivered, and bluestem grass hay steady, grinding alfalfa mostly steady, movement slow. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $11.50-$12.50/bale. Dairy 1.30-1.40/point RFV, supreme, $240-$280, premium, $230-$260, good, $195-$240. Horse hay, 3×4 squares, $290-$300. Stock cow 3×4 squares, $205-$235. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $220-$230, large square 3×4 squares, $245-$255. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $240-$300. Alfalfa mix ground and delivered, $270-$275. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $7.50-$8.50/bale, large 3×4 squares, $160-$170, good large rounds, $140-$155. Brome, small squares, $8.50-$9.50/bale, large rounds, $155-$165. Sudan, large rounds, $140. Soybean large rounds, $195-$205. Wheat straw, small squares, $6/bale, large rounds, $95-$105, large squares, $110-$120. Corn stalks, large rounds, $95-$105. For the week ending Oct. 8, 1,460 tons of grinding alfalfa and 175 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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