Drought and dry conditions in the western two-thirds of the state have dryland crops burning up, and alfalfa headed into dormancy, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market Service, Aug. 6.
Although movement picked up a bit, demand remained very light as feed yards are still not buying. Even despite the setbacks to the hay crop, there is still large amounts of old crop hay available. Premium and supreme quality hay is more in demand but seems to be hard to find. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price mostly steady and ground and delivered alfalfa price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, stock or dry cow $120. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $100-$110, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s $105-$115. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $155-$160. Sudan large rounds and large squares $60-$70. Teff, small squares $9/bale, large rounds $130-$140. Wheat straw: large rounds and large squares $95-$110 delivered. For the week ending Aug. 3, 4,121 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.
South central—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price mixed. Ground and delivered steady, and alfalfa pellet price steady to $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $115–$125 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $115-$125 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150-$160. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15% protein $250-$260, 17% protein $265-$275, Dehydrated 17% protein: $370-380. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds and large squares $120-$130. Brome, rounds and squares $100-$120. For the week ending Aug. 3, 9,156.5 tons of grinding alfalfa and 950 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.
Southeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem and brome hay price, largely unchanged. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, none reported. Good, stock cow, new crop $130. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Bluestem grass hay, old crop small squares $180-$200, large round, $130-$140, large square, 3×4 and 4×4’s $130-$140. Brome, medium 3×3 squares $150-$175, large rounds $130-$140, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares $130-$140. For the week ending Aug. 3, 510 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.
Northwest—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Grinding alfalfa prices are steady. Premium horse alfalfa, small squares, $310, good small squares $290. Alfalfa fair/good old crop, 3×3 squares, $120, Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $100 per ton. Sudan large rounds none was reported.
North central/northeast—Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, grinding alfalfa steady, ground and delivered steady, and grass hay $5-$20 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares $12/bale; Stock Cow good, 3×4’s $145-$150; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $85-$95, large square 3×4’s none reported. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150-$160. Bluestem grass hay, small squares, $8-$9/bale, large rounds, $90-$100, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $130-$135. Brome, small squares, $10-$14/bale, large rounds, $110-$120, large squares, $125-$135. Wheat straw, large rounds, $60-$70. For the week ending Aug. 3, 782 tons of grinding alfalfa and 188 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.
