Hay movement steady, demand still very light

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, Sept. 3.

Prices have continued to soften as producers are trying to get rid of last years hay and make room for the new crop. Scattered rainstorms throughout the eastern part of the state caused some delays in putting up hay. Prices are based on averages and given on a per ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

There will be no Kansas Hay Report on Sept. 10. Next report will be available Sept. 17.

Southwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price steady and ground and delivered alfalfa price $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $110-$125, large squares, $115-120. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $140-$160. For the week ending Aug. 31, 7,412 tons of grinding alfalfa and no 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 steady, Ground and delivered steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $95–$105 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $110-$120 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $145-$160. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $240-$250. For the week ending Aug. 31, 5,907 tons of grinding alfalfa and 975 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. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $110-$130. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending Aug. 31, 2,080 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Horse alfalfa and good stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100.

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, grinding alfalfa mostly steady, ground and delivered steady, and grass hay $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good stock cow, $180. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$110. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $150-$180. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$9/bale, large rounds, $80-$110. Brome, small squares, $9-$10/bale, large rounds, $100-$120, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $130. For the week ending Aug. 31, 624 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.