Hay demand low to moderate

Hay Markets

Compared to the last report, hay demand was low to moderate, and trade activity remained slow, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Oct. 17.

Kansas producers who are looking to sell their grinding alfalfa are not having much luck, as there seems to be a lot of other options for end users to feed right now. In addition, most producers are busy pushing hard to finish up harvest and do not have time to concentrate on moving hay. Prices are based on averages and are given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy alfalfa and ground and delivered, steady, grinding alfalfa $5 lower; movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $220-$250. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds new crop, $215-$225, fair/weedy/grassy large rounds, $185-$195, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares new crop, $220-$230. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, new crop, $240-$250. Bluestem grass hay, CRP large rounds, $100/bale. Sudan, large rounds, $145-$155. Corn stalks, $95-$105 delivered. For the week ending Oct. 14, 6,266.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 675 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Oct. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $300.43, up $7.60 from the previous month, which includes mixed hay loads, usage was 583 tons/day, down 5% and total usage was 18,544 tons.

South central:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, and alfalfa pellets steady, ground and delivered $5 lower; movement slow. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $15/bale; Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock cow, $235-$245. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds new crop, $200–$210 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares new crop, $205-$210 delivered, rained on large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $140-$150. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $235-$245. Sun cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $315-$325, 17% protein, $325-$335, dehydrated 17% protein, $410-$420. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $165-$185 delivered, large 3×4 squares, $150-$160 FOB, small squares, $195-$205. Brome, small squares, $245-$250/ton. Oat hay, large 3×4’s and 4×4 squares, $150-$200 delivered. Mixed grass CRP large rounds, $115-$125. Soybeans, large rounds, $125-$135. Wheat straw, large rounds, $125-$135, small squares, $5-$6/bale. For the week ending Oct. 14, there was 7,123.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Oct. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $245.07, down $2.58 from the previous month, which includes mixed hay loads, usage was 274 tons/day, down 29.5% and total usage was 8,227 tons.

Southeast:

Dairy alfalfa steady, grass hay steady; movement slow. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, stock cow, $260-$270 delivered. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $200-$205, medium 3×3 squares, $180-$185, large 3×4 squares, $175-$185, large rounds, $150-$165. Brome, large rounds, $160-$170, large squares, $185-$200. For the week ending Oct. 14, 1,094 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest:

Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa steady; movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, 3×3 squares, $300 new crop. Dairy, premium/supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $235-$240, large 3×4 squares, $240-$245. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $260-$280.

North central/northeast:

Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered and grass hay steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV; Premium horse hay, small squares, $12-$13/bale; Stock cow, 3×4 squares, $230-$240. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $210-$220, large 3×4 squares, $230-$240, Alfalfa ground and delivered, $270-$275. Alfalfa/Sudan grass mix ground and delivered, $200. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, new crop, $9-$10/bale, large 3×4 squares, $165-$175, good large rounds, $150-$170. Brome, small squares, $10-$11/bale, large rounds, $130-$180. Oat hay, large rounds, $160; Sudan: large rounds, $170-$180. Wheat straw, small squares, $5-$6 per bale. Corn stalks, large rounds, $60-$70. For the week ending Oct. 14, 305 tons of grinding alfalfa and 25 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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