Kansas hay demand light to moderate in SW region, light for all others

This past week, demand was light to moderate in the southwest, but light for all other regions, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, May 6.

Trade was lower by 2,400 tons and prices were mixed. Overall, grinding alfalfa price fell in most regions, while ground and delivered price rose. New crop pricing is on everyone’s mind but has not been officially reported yet. Although many areas received rain, the recent rain events were not drought busters. A possible hot dry summer will most likely be factored in to determine new crop pricing. 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, ground and delivered, steady. Grinding alfalfa $5 lower, Alfalfa: Dairy, $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow hay, $120-$130. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90-$100, large squares, $90-100. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $150-$160. : Bluestem grass hay, large rounds CRP, $75/bale. For the week ending May 3, it was reported 8,191 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

South central—Demand, light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, steady. Grinding alfalfa steady. Ground and delivered, $5 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy $0.95-$1.05/point RFV. Good stock cow, $115-$125. 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, $215-$220, 17% protein, $220-$225, 17% dehydrated, $340. Bluestem grass hay, rounds and squares, $80-$90. Sudan, large rounds, $50-$60. For the week ending May 3, it was reported 5,271.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 159 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, steady. Bluestem $5 lower, and brome hay price steady to $5 higher. Horse or goat alfalfa, small squares, $7.50-$8.50/bale delivered. Dairy, $1.05-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock cow, $120-$125. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $145-$160, large rounds, $70-$80, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $110-$120. Brome, small squares, $6-$10/bale, large rounds, $100-$110, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $105-$115. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending May 3, it was reported 516 tons of grass hay was bought or sold.

Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, $135-$145. Stock cow, good, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa large round and squares $90-$100; Sudan large rounds $70.

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa steady. Grinding alfalfa steady to $5 lower. Alfalfa ground and delivered steady to $5 higher. Bluestem grass, mostly steady. Brome, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.05/point RFV; Horse or goat small squares $10-$12/bale; Stock Cow good, $140-$150; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $70-$80, 3×4 and 4×4 $105-$115 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $140-$150. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8-$8.50/bale, large rounds $65-$75, large squares $80-$90. Brome: small squares $8-$9/bale, large rounds $80-$90, large square 3×4 and 4×4 none reported. Wheat straw, large round $60-$70. The week of 4/27-5/03, 857.5T of grinding alfalfa and 675T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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