Kansas hay demand remains slow, prices steady for grass hay

During this past week, demand remained slow and prices stayed steady for grass hay, while lower quality dairy hay saw a slight decrease in price, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Oct. 14.

Trade remains slow to moderate. Producers continue with fall harvest while also putting up the last few cuttings alfalfa, which seem to be higher quality. There is still an abundance of lower quality alfalfa across the state, that is keeping grinding hay movement steady. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest—Demand light. Trade slow. Dairy alfalfa $0.05 lower, stock cow and ground and delivered steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $0.95-$1/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $130-$140 delivered. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds and large squares, $115-$130 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $145-$155. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $220. Bluestem, large rounds, $75. For the week ending Oct. 11, it was reported 7,855 tons of grinding alfalfa and 375 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Oct. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $156.99, up $5.56 from the previous month. Usage was 578 tons/day, up 6.5% from last month and total usage was 17,341 tons.

South central—Demand light. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered, alfalfa pellets, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.05/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $130-$140. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $110–$115 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $115-$125 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $215, 17% dehydrated, $340. Brome grass hay, large round and large squares, $100-$120, small squares, $9/bale. For the week ending Oct. 11, it was reported 5,454.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 275 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Oct. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $115.63, down $6.21 from the previous month. Usage was 344 tons/day, up 34.6% from last month and total usage was 10,320.5 tons.

Southeast—Demand light. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa and grass hay steady. Dairy, $1-$1.05/point RFV. Good stock cow, $100-$110. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $70-$80, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$120, small squares, $130-$135. Brome, large squares, $120-130. Wheat, large squares, $70. For the week ending Oct. 11, it was reported 1,124 tons of grass hay was bought or sold.

Northwest—Demand light. Trade activity slow. Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares, $90-$100. Teff, medium squares, $170-$180, small squares, $185-$195. Wheat, large squares, $90-$105.

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa $0.05 lower, grinding alfalfa, alfalfa ground and delivered, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $.90-$1/point RFV. Good stock cow, $125-$135. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds and squares, $110-$120 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Alfalfa/oat mix ground and delivered, $110-120. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $65-$80. CWF, $85, large squares, $60-$70. Brome, large rounds, $85-$95. Wheat straw, large squares, $70-$85. For the week ending Oct. 11, it was reported 601 tons of grinding alfalfa and 75 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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