Hay demand very light, movement picks up some

This past week, demand remained very light however, hay movement picked up a bit in the southwest region where some larger trades of grinding hay and ground and delivered were made, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Sept. 17.

Prices have continued to soften as producers are trying to get rid of last year’s hay which is in abundance, not only in Kansas but from Canada to Texas. The state remains dry and needs some precipitation but as harvest is ongoing, many are glad for the open weather. 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 $10-$15 lower and ground and delivered alfalfa price $5-$15 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100-$115, large squares, $100-115. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $135-$145. For the week ending Sept. 14, 9,292 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Sept. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $173.86, down $3.34 from the previous month. Usage was 584 tons per day, up 22% from last month and total usage was 18,100 tons.

South central—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices steady. Grinding alfalfa steady and alfalfa pellet price $10 lower, Ground and delivered mostly steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $95–$105 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $110-$120 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $145-$155. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $230-$240, 17% protein, $235-$245, 17% dehydrated, $365. For the week ending Sept. 14, 5,228 tons of grinding alfalfa and 975 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Sept. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $156.43, down $7.95 from the previous month. Usage was 212 tons per day, up 10% from last month and total usage was 6,562.5 tons.

Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem and brome hay price remain steady. Dairy, $1.115-$1.25/point RFV. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $110-$120, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $130-$140. Brome, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $135-$145. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending Sept. 14, 2,241 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Horse alfalfa, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100.

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, grinding alfalfa steady to $10 lower, ground and delivered steady to $20 lower, and grass hay steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$100. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $150-$160. 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 Sept. 14, 1,080 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.