For the week ending Feb. 1, demand picked up a bit and can be described as moderate to good, with producers reporting more inquires, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Feb. 4.
Trades also picked up for the southwest and south-central regions with prices remaining mostly steady. Availability of hay is still heavy. Those producers that missed out on much of the snow and rain last month, are busy applying fertilizer to their brome fields and some even doing a bit of disking. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest—Demand moderate to good. Trade activity is slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa steady and grinding alfalfa price mostly steady. Alfalfa and ground delivered $5 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.05-$1.15/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow hay, $115-$125. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $95-$105, large squares, $95-105. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $145-$155. For the week ending Feb. 1, it was reported 7,838.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 300 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.
South central—Demand, moderate. Trade activity is slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered and alfalfa pellet price, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock cow, $100-$120. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100–$110 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$110 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $140-$150. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $220-$225, 17% protein, $225-$230, 17% dehydrated, $350. Sudan, large rounds, $60-$70. For the week ending Feb. 1, it was reported 6,660.75 tons of grinding alfalfa and 460 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.
Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy Alfalfa, bluestem and brome hay price, steady. Dairy, $1.05-$1.10/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares, $115-$125. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$180, large rounds, $85-$100, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $95-$110. Brome, small squares $6-$10/bale, large rounds, $100-$110, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $120-$130. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending Feb. 1, it was reported 1,279 tons of grass hay was bought or sold.
Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large s and squares, $90-$100.
North central/northeast—Demand light to moderate. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price, ground and delivered and grass hay all steady. Grinding alfalfa mostly steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV; Horse or goat small squares, $13/bale. Good stock cow, $145-$155. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$100, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $115-$120. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$9/bale, large rounds, $80- $100, large squares, $110-$120. Brome, small squares, $9-$10/bale. For the week ending Feb. 1, it was reported 692 tons of grinding alfalfa and 437.5 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.
Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Manhattan, Kansas.
