Steady prices for good hay demand, trade slow

Compared to the last report, demand remains good, prices remained steady, trade activity remains slow, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, April 18.

Not much new to report. Kansas remains dry and the wind continues to blow. As one producer put it “even the jack rabbits are carrying canteens.” There is a very real sense of concern for this year’s hay crop across the state and several producers have stated they have lost partial stands of alfalfa. Adding insult to injury, weevil and cut worms are making themselves known. Prices are based on averages and are given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady, movement slow. Supreme horse alfalfa, small squares, $12-14/bale. Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $300-$315. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $295-$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, $300-$320. Bluestem grass hay, $150-$160. For the week ending April 15, 4,428 tons of grinding alfalfa and 575 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on April 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $317.45, up $7.38 from the previous month, usage was 626 tons/day, down almost 8% and total usage was 19,407 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, $295-$305. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $290-$300 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $310-$320 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $315-$325; Alfalfa/soybean: ground and delivered, $300-$315. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $325-$335, 17% protein, $345-$350, dehydrated 17% protein, $395-$400. Sudan, large rounds, $125-$130. Corn stalks, large rounds, $110-$120. For the week ending April 15, 7,028 tons of grinding alfalfa and 750 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on April 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $266.35, down $1.53 from the previous month, usage was 266 tons/day, down nearly 8% and total usage was 7,519.5 tons.

Southeast:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, grass hay steady, movement slow. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock cow, $260-$270. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large 3×4 squares, $260-$270. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$165, good 3×4 squares, $160-$170, large rounds, $140-$150. Brome, large squares, $180-$200 delivered. Corn stalks, large rounds, $120-$130 delivered. For the week ending April 15, 1,345 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, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered and bluestem grass hay steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Premium horse hay, small squares, $12.50-$13.50/bale, 3×4 squares, $290-$300; Stock cow, 3x4squares, $230-$240. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $235-$245, large square 3×4 squares, $270-$280 delivered; 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, $150-$160. Brome, small squares, $9-$9.50/bale, large rounds, $130-$150. Sudan, large rounds, $130-$150. Wheat straw, small squares, $6/bale, large squares, $120-$130. Corn stalks, large squares, $140-$150 delivered. For the week ending April 15, 799 tons of grinding alfalfa and 300 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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