Hay trade slow to moderate

Compared to the last report, demand remained good, prices remained steady, trade activity was slow to moderate, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Feb. 21.

Producers state that the hay business has slowed down and are mostly moving previously purchased hay. Finding hay to purchase remains difficult and many are holding on to the hay they have till we get a little closer to spring. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady, movement slow to moderate. Supreme horse alfalfa, small squares, $12-$14/bale. Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $295-$305. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $285-$300, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $300-$310. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $340-$350. Alfalfa/grass hay mix, ground and delivered, $290-$300. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $155-$165. Oat hay, large 3×4 squares, $165-$175. For the week ending Feb. 18, 6,829 tons of grinding alfalfa and 1,500 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Feb. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $299, up $16.95 from the previous month, usage was 676 tons/day, up 11.5% from last month and total usage was 20,956 tons.

South central:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered, and alfalfa pellets steady, movement slow. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $325/ton. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock cow, $300-$310. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $290-$300 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $315-$325 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $300-$315. Alfalfa/soybean, ground and delivered, $295-$305. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $325-$335, 17% protein, $345-$350, dehydrated 17% protein, $395-$400. CRP, $110-$120. Sudan: 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $200-$210, large rounds, $125-$130. Corn stalks, large rounds, $110-$120, ground and delivered, $220-$230. Soybean stalks, large rounds, $115-$125. Failed soybean bales, large rounds and large squares, $140-$180. Soybeans ground and delivered, $220-$225. Milo, large rounds, $130-$140. Wheat straw, $100-$105. For the week ending Feb. 18, 7,983 tons of grinding alfalfa and 719 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Feb. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $262.19, up $9.21 from the previous month, usage was 234 tons/day, up nearly 11% from last month and total usage was 7,260 tons.

Southeast:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa and grass hay steady; movement slow. Dairy alfalfa 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock , $260-$270. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large 3×4 squares, $290-$295. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$165, good 3×4 squares, $160-$170, large rounds, $120-$130. Brome, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $155-$165. Corn stalks, large rounds, $120-$130 delivered. For the week ending Feb. 18, 1,156 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest:

Dairy alfalfa and grinding alfalfa steady, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, small squares, $345-$355 delivered, 3×3 squares, $305-$320 delivered. Dairy, premium/supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large 3×4 squares, $300-$315. Milo stalks, large rounds, $145-$150.

North central/northeast:

Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered and bluestem grass hay steady, grinding alfalfa steady to $5 lower, movement slow. Dairy alfalfa 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $12.50-$13.50/bale, 3×4 squares, $290-$300. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $240-$250, large square 3×4 squares, $240-$250. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $275-$300. Alfalfa/prairie grass mix ground and delivered, $270-$275. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$8.50/bale, large 3×4 squares, $150-$160, good large rounds, $140-$150. Brome, small squares, $9-$9.50/bale, large 3×4 squares, $170-$180. Sudan, large rounds, $155-$165 delivered, large 3×4 squares, $160-$170 delivered. Wheat straw, small squares, $6/bale, large rounds, $110-$115, large squares, $115-$125. Corn stalks, large rounds, $95-$100, corn stalks ground and delivered, $145-$155. For the week ending Feb. 18, 890 tons of grinding alfalfa and 234 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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