Kansas hay demand light, prices remain steady

During the week ending Aug. 30, demand was light, and prices were steady, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Sept. 2.

Trade remains slow to moderate. Rain, rain, and more rain. It has been great for the crops but sure makes it hard to put up hay. Conversations continued to revolve around the fact that there sure is a lot of forage out there, and with grain prices so low, it is no wonder sales are slow. Pellets, however, continue to move briskly. 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 and large squares, $120-$125 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $150-$160. For the week ending Aug. 30, it was reported 7,680 tons of grinding alfalfa and 75 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

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–$110 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. 30, it was reported 5,894.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 250 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

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-$145. Brome, large rounds, $75-$85, large squares, $120-130. Wheat straw, large squares, $60-$70. For the week ending Aug. 30, it was reported 1,656 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, $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. 30, it was reported 1,807 tons of grinding alfalfa and 250 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

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