Kansas hay demand remains light, mostly steady prices
This past week, demand remained light, and prices were mostly steady, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Dec. 17.
The supply of hay available remains heavy as almost all contributors indicated that there is lots of hay sitting around. Those producers wanting to sell their hay are discouraged by the lower prices and many have chosen to hold onto their hay until prices rise. Cattle are still grazing on wheat and rye in some areas and the warm and dry weather all contribute to less hay being fed. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.05-$1.15/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $120-$130. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100-$110, large squares, $100-$115. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $140-$145. For the week ending Dec. 14, it was reported 7,989 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Dec. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $152.55, down $10.89 from the previous month. Usage was 532 tons/day, down 14% from last month and total usage was 15,968 tons.
South central—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered and alfalfa pellet price, steady. Grinding alfalfa steady to $5 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy $1-$1.10/point RFV. Good stock cow, $100-$120. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $100–$110 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $100-$110 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $220-$230, 17% protein, $230-$240, 17% dehydrated, $350. Brome, large rounds, $100-$115. Fort he week ending Dec. 14, it was reported 6,307 tons of grinding alfalfa and 100 tons of dairy alfalfa was bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on Dec. 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $143.40, up $6.01 from the previous month. Usage was 232 tons/day, up 17% from last month and total usage was 6,972.5 tons.
Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, bluestem and brome hay price remains mostly steady. Dairy, $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares, $115-$125. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $160-$180, large rounds, $95-$105, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $115-$130. Brome, small squares, $6-$10/bale, large rounds, $100-$110, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $125-$135. Wheat straw, large squares, $70. For the week ending Dec. 14, it was reported 1,011 tons of grass hay was bought or sold.
Northwest—Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, $175-$185. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round and squares, $90-$100.
North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price, ground and delivered and grass hay all steady. Grinding alfalfa mostly steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Horse or goat, alfalfa, small squares, $12/bale. Good stock cow, $145-$155. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $90-$100, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $115-$120. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $135-$145. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$9/bale, large rounds, $80-$110, large squares, $110-$120. Brome, small squares, $9-$10/bale, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $130 delivered. For the week ending Dec. 14, it was reported 776 tons of grinding alfalfa and 150 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.
Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Manhattan, Kansas.
