Little change in hay market, movement steady

This past week hay movement was steady while demand remained very light with very little change in activity from the previous week, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Aug. 20.

Prices continue to weaken a bit with the abundance of other feed stuffs available. Rain across the state brought much needed moisture, while also causing flooding and delays in putting up hay in some areas. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price $5-$10 higher and ground and delivered alfalfa price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $105-$125, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s $105-$115. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $155-$160. Sudan large rounds and large squares none reported. Teff, small squares, $9/bale, large, $140-$150/ton. For the week ending Aug. 17, 4,390 tons of grinding alfalfa and 250 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Aug. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $177.20, down $11.40 from the previous month. Usage was 477 tons/day, down 13% from last month and total usage was 14,778.5 tons.

South central—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices steady. Grinding alfalfa and alfalfa pellet price $5-$10 lower, Ground and delivered steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good stock cow, $110-$120. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100–$110 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $115-$125 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $145-$160. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $240-$250. Brome, rounds and squares, $100-$120. For the week ending Aug. 17, 6,768 tons of grinding alfalfa and 950 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Aug. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $164.38, down $0.58 from the previous month. Usage was 192 tons/day, down 8% from last month and total usage was 5,959.5 tons.

Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem and brome hay price remain steady. Good, stock cow alfalfa, new crop, $115-$$130. Bluestem grass hay, new crop, small squares, $180, large rounds, $95-$115, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $120-$135. Wheat straw, large rounds, $100. For the week ending Aug. 17, 1,129 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $310, good small squares, $290. Good alfalfa, new crop, 3×3 squares, $180.

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, grinding alfalfa mostly steady, ground and delivered $5-$10 higher, and grass hay steady to $5 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Premium horse hay, small squares, $12/bale; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$100. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $160-$180. Premium alfalfa, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $240-$250. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8/bale, large rounds, $90-$115. Brome, small squares, $9-$10/bale, large rounds $110-$120. Wheat straw, large rounds, $70-$90. For the week ending Aug. 17, 426 tons of grinding alfalfa and 125 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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