Kansas hay demand light, trade slow to moderate

This past week, demand was light, trade was slow to moderate, and prices were steady, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, July 22.

A little more grass hay moved this past week, with a slight uptick in demand. Rain across the state continues to hamper hay harvest and producers state that there will be plenty of grinding hay available. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest—Demand light. Trade moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered alfalfa all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $130. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $110-$120 delivered and large squares, $120-$125 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $150-$160. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $215-$220, 17% protein, $220-$225. For the week ending July 19, it was reported 5,182.50 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

South central—Demand and trade activity, light to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, steady. Grinding alfalfa mostly steady. Ground and delivered $5 higher. Alfalfa, small squares, $10/bale. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock cow, $125-$135. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $110–$115 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $110-$120 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $210-$215, 17% dehydrated, $340. Brome, medium squares, $120-$130. For the week ending July 19, it was reported 5,868 tons of grinding alfalfa and 525 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. Alfalfa, small squares, $8-$10/bale. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares, first cut, $100-125. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $70-$80, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $110-$120, small squares, $140-$160. Brome, large squares, $115-125. Wheat straw, large squares, $60-$70. For the week ending July 19, it was reported 1,182 tons of grass hay was bought or sold.

Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is very slow. Horse hay, small squares, $195-$205. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds and squares, $90-$100. Wheat straw, large squares, $90 

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, alfalfa ground and delivered, bluestem, and brome, all steady. Alfalfa, horse hay, small squares, $10-12/bale, Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.05/point RFV. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $70-$80, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $105-$115 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds $70-$80, large squares, $90-$100. Wheat Straw, large rounds and large squares, $45-$65. For the week ending July 19, it was reported 926 tons of grinding alfalfa and 775 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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