Light demand, steady prices for Kansas hay
This past week, demand was light, and prices were steady, while trade remains slow to moderate, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Aug. 26.
Producers continue to bale hay, despite all the rain, because what else are you going to do? Conversations this week revolved around there being lots of grinder hay available but not much high-quality hay. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest—Demand, light. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered alfalfa, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $130-$140 delivered. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $110-$125 delivered, large squares, $125-$130 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $150-$160. For the week ending Aug. 23, it was reported 7,957 tons of grinding alfalfa and 550 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Aug. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $156.81, down $5.14 from the previous month. Usage was 551tons/day, up 17% from last month and total usage was 17,069 tons.
South central—Demand, light. Trade activity, slow. Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered, all steady. Alfalfa, small squares, $10/bale. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock cow, $125-$135. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $105–$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 Aug. 23, it was reported 5,051 tons of grinding alfalfa and 250 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Aug. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $134.55, down $12.99 from the previous month. Usage was 95 tons/day, down 37% from last month and total usage was 2,949 tons.
Southeast—Demand, light. Trade activity, slow. Dairy alfalfa steady, 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, $95-120. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $70-$80, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $110-$120, small squares, $140-$160. Brome, large squares, $120-$130. Wheat straw, large squares, $60-$70. For the week ending Aug. 23, it was reported 1,449 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. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $10-$12/bale. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.05/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $65-$75, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $105-$115 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $75-$85, large squares, $90-$100. Brome, large rounds, $70-$80, large squares, $120-$130. Wheat straw, large rounds and large squares, $45-$65. For the week ending Aug. 23, it was reported 1,830 tons of grinding alfalfa and 275 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.
Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Manhattan, Kansas.
