Kansas hay demand increases slightly

This past week, demand increased slightly while prices stayed steady, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Oct. 28.

Trade remained slow and steady, with no new contracts being moved. Producers have been busy with harvest and planting and have not been moving high volumes of hay. There is still plenty of forage across the state, with many producers waiting for a weather change to increase demand. Prices below reflect the average price. There could be prices higher and lower prices than those published.

Southwest—Demand, light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, stock cow, ground and delivered, and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $0.95-$1/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $135-$145 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, 17% protein, $225. Alfalfa, small squares, $10/bale. Bluestem, large squares, $90. For the week ending Oct. 25, it was reported 7,422 tons of grinding alfalfa and 575 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

South central—Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa and grinding alfalfa steady, ground and delivered $5 higher, 17% dehydrated alfalfa pellets $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.05/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $130-$140. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds and squares, $110–$120 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $140-$150. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $210-$215, 17% dehydrated, $335. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $110 delivered. Brome, large rounds and medium squares, $100-$125, small squares $9/bale. Wheat, large squares, $75-$80. For the week ending Oct. 25, it was reported 7,007.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 450 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold.

Southeast—Demand, light. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa and stock cow steady, prairie hay, large rounds $5 lower. 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. 25, it was reported 708 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 to moderate. Trade activity slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, alfalfa ground and delivered, grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $.90-$1/point RFV. Good stock cow, $130-$140. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds and squares, $105-$115 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145.

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