Hay demand remains light in Kansas

This past week, demand remained light, and prices were mostly steady, however, the volume of hay transported was up, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Oct. 1.

The hay market seems to be sluggish, as there is a lot of silage and high moisture corn out there to feed. Customers are in no hurry to buy hay at this time, and some producers are in no hurry to sell at lower prices. Producers are busy in the fields finishing up corn harvest and planting wheat. Some folks are also finishing up with the last cutting of alfalfa for the season. Prices are based on averages and are given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa and ground and delivered alfalfa prices, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $95-$110, large squares, $95-110. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $140-$150. For the week ending Sept. 28, there were 9,189 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South central—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices steady. Grinding alfalfa mixed and ground and delivered and alfalfa pellet price was steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $110–$115 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $105-$115 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $140-$155. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $230-$240, 17% protein, $240-$250, 17% dehydrated, $365. Bluestem grass hay, rounds and squares, $100-125. Brome, $110-$120. For the week ending Sept. 28, there were 7,035 tons of grinding alfalfa and 1,025 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem and brome hay price remain steady. Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $110-$120, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $120-$140. Brome, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $135-$145. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending Sept. 28, there were 2,026 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa large round $100.

North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered and grass hay all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$100. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $150-$160. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$9/bale, large rounds, $80-$110. Brome, small squares, $9-$10/bale, large rounds, $100-$120, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $130. For the week ending Sept. 28, there were 426 tons of grinding alfalfa and 250 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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