Kansas hay demand light, with slow to moderate trades
During the week ending March 8, demand was light and trades remained slow to moderate, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, March 11.
Prices were mostly steady. Although there is still hay to purchase, most buyers and sellers can’t seem to come to a price they both agree on. These crazy weather extremes have many scratching their heads as they attempt to fertilize brome and alfalfa. Windy conditions prevailed last week and with little precipitation, wildfire danger is high. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest—Demand, light to moderate. Trade activity is slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered alfalfa, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.05-$1.15/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $115-$125. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100-$110, large square, $100-$110. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $150-$160. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds and squares, $80-$85 delivered. For the week ending March 11, it was reported 6,782 tons of grinding alfalfa and 25 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $152.64, up $0.26 from the previous month. Usage was 515 tons/day, down 8% from last month and total usage was 14,423 tons.
South central—Demand, light to 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, $110-$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, $50-$60. For the week ending March 11, it was reported 7,539 tons of grinding alfalfa and 264 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $137.24, down $13.84 from the previous month. Usage was 261 tons/day, up 35% from last month and total usage was 7,575.5 tons.
Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, bluestem and brome hay price, steady. Dairy, $1.05-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock cow, $120-$125. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares, $105-$115. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$165, large rounds, $80-$95, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$120. Brome, small squares, $6-$10/bale, large rounds, $100-$110, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $110-$125. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending March 11, it was reported 1,436 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 rounds and squares, $90-$100.
North central/northeast—Demand light to moderate. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered steady. Brome and bluestem grass steady. Baled grinding alfalfa $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Horse or goat alfalfa, small squares, $13/bale. Good stock cow, $140-$150. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $80-$90, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$105. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$8.50/bale, large rounds, $75-$85, large squares, $85-$95. Brome: small squares, $8-$9/bale, large rounds, $80-$90. For the week ending March 11, it was reported 398 tons of grinding alfalfa and 167 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.
Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Manhattan, Kansas.
