Hay demand remains light, prices were mostly steady

This past week, demand remained light, and prices were mostly steady with a softer undertone, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Oct. 15.

The hay market remains sluggish although there has been reports of some supplemental feeding occurring due to drought. According to last week’s NASS Kansas Crop Report, alfalfa hay production is at 2.38 million tons, up 6% from last year. Area for harvest at 610,000 acres, is down 17% from a year ago. Yield of 3.90 tons per acre is up from 3.05 tons per acre in 2023. All other hay production, at 3.20 million tons, is up 15% from last year. Area for harvest, at 1.73 million acres, is down 16% from a year ago. Yield of 1.85 tons per acre is up 0.5 ton from 2023. Prices below reflect the average price. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa and ground and delivered alfalfa prices, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $95-$110, large squares, $95-$110. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $140-$150. Oat hay, large rounds, $100. Cane, large rounds, $50-$60. For the week ending Oct. 12, 8,713 tons of grinding alfalfa and 115 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Oct. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $170.31, down $3.55 from the previous month. Usage was 665 tons/day, up 14% from last month and total usage was 19,942 tons.

South central—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices steady to $.05/pt lower. Grinding alfalfa $5 lower, ground and delivered $5 to $10 lower and alfalfa pellet price $10 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100–$110 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$110 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $130-$145. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $220-$230, 17% protein, $230-$240, 17% dehydrated, $350. Bluestem grass hay, rounds and squares, $100-$125. Brome, $110-$120. For thw eek ending Oct. 12, 7,262.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 50 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Oct. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $145.62, down $10.81 from the previous month. Usage was 310 tons/day, up 46% from last month and total usage was 9,313 tons.

Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy Alfalfa steady to $.05/pt lower. Bluestem, large squares and brome hay price remain steady. Horse or goat alfalfa, none reported. Dairy, $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$180, large rounds, $100-$110, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $120-$140. Brome, small squares, $6-$10/bale, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $135-$145. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending Oct. 12 1,185 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 steady to $.05/pt lower, grinding alfalfa, and grass hay all steady. Ground and delivered $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$100. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $145-$155. 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 Oct. 12, 470 tons of grinding alfalfa and 200 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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