January 5, 2009

Most hay selling steady

In Nebraska and the East River area of South Dakota, all hay sales trading at fully steady level, according to the USDA Market News Service, Dec. 24. Frigid temperatures has contributed to increased demand with a few new trades to report. Corn stalk fields a still open. Pellets sales were fully steady. Demand and trade activity is moderate. Prices given on a per ton basis unless otherwise noted.

Northeast: Supreme alfalfa, in large squares, $180-$225; premium, in large squares, $170-$200. Good/premium grass, in small squares, $115-$120, in large rounds, $70 -$80. Ground and delivered to feedlots, $120-$125. Dehydrated alfalfa pellets, 17% protein: $220-$225.

Platte Valley: Alfalfa: Supreme alfalfa, in large squares, $180-$220, premium, in large squares, $170-$200. Good alfalfa, in rounds, $75- $80. Good grass, in rounds, $85-$92.50, ground and delivered to feedlots, $115-$125. Dehydrated alfalfa pellets, 17% protein, $220-$225.

East River area of South Dakota: Premium alfalfa, in large squares, RFV greater than 170-185, $180; good, RFV greater than 150, $175; Grinding quality, in large squares, $65 to $75; in large rounds, $65 to $70. Straw in large squares, $85 FOB, large rounds, $65, $70 delivered.

In Iowa, All classes sold steady. Good demand and attendance.

Premium alfalfa, in small squares, $130, in large squares, $135-$140, fair, $80. Premium grass, in small squares, $120; good in large squares, $95-$110, in large rounds, $90-$100, fair, $77.50. Bedding, in small squares, $2.50-$3.10/bale, in large squares, $95. Cornstalks, in large rounds, $55.

In Wyoming, western Nebraska, and western South Dakota trade and movement was slow. Demand moderate to good. Prices mostly steady. Supplies in central Wyoming very short, moderate in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska, while very heavy in South Dakota.

Eastern Wyoming: Good/premium alfalfa, $125-$160; fair/good, $100-$125; fair, in large rounds, $95-$100; utility, $85; ground and delivered $121-$136. Oat hay, $90. Wheat straw, $60. Dehydrated alfalfa pellets ,17% protein, $190 delivered wholesale.

Central/western Wyoming: Supreme alfalfa in far west Wyoming, $170-$175. Premium alfalfa, $140-$150, in small squares, $140-$175; good, $120-$140; fair, $98-$110. Premium alfalfa/grass, $175; fair/good, $105-$115. Mixed grass, $120. Oat hay, $80-$85. Alfalfa cubes, $140.

Western Nebraska: Supreme alfalfa, $150-$180; premium, $135-$145, in small squares, $140; good, $110-$130; fair, $95-$110; utility, $90; ground and delivered, $120-$130. Wheat straw, $50-$55. Corn stalks, $50-$55.

Western South Dakota: Premium dairy alfalfa, $85-$120; good, in large rounds, $75-$90; fair, $50-$65. Premium alfalfa/grass mix, in 3- by 3 bales, $100-$120; good, $80. Grass, $85 delivered. Oat hay, $75. Barley hay, $70. Crested wheat grass, $65-$72.

In Colorado, all classes of hay fully steady. Several producers continue to report that the majority of upper end qualities are already spoken for as many continue to ship off of previous contracts. Trade activity slow. Demand moderate to good.

Northeast: Supreme alfalfa, in large squares, $190-$200 delivered; premium, in large squares, $160-$180 delivered, in small squares, $250-$275; good, in large squares, $150-$160 delivered, in small squares, $185-$200; fair, in large squares, $130-$140 delivered. Utility/fair, in large squares, $120-$130, in large squares, $100-$110 delivered. Premium alfalfa/grass mix, in small squares, $250-$275. Premium grass, in large squares, $160-$180, in small squares, $250-$290, instances $325; good, in large squares, $150-$160; Fair/good, in large squares, $140-$150 delivered. Haylage, $135 delivered. Straw, $70, $75-$80 delivered. Oat hay, in large squares, $115-$125. Cornstalks, $65 delivered.

Southeast: Premium/supreme alfalfa, in large squares, $190-$200; premium, $185-$190; good, in large squares, $160-$175, in small squares, $170; fair, in large squares, $140-$150. Utility, in large squares, $120-$130, $135-$140 delivered. Ground and delivered, $170. Premium grass, in small squares, $200. Straw, in large squares, $60, $70 delivered. Oat hay, in large squares, $125 delivered. Sorghum, in large squares, $100. Cornstalks, $60-$70.

San Luis Valley: Supreme alfalfa, in large squares, $190-$200; premium, in large squares, $180-$185; good, in large squares, $170-$175; fair, in large squares, $160-$170. Premium alfalfa/grass mix, in large squares, $175-$180; good, in large squares, $150-$165, in small squares, $175-$187. Premium grass, in large squares, $165, horse hay, $180; good, in large squares, $135. Oat hay, in large squares, $125, in small squares, $135. Straw, in large squares, $50.

Southwest: Supreme alfalfa, in large squares, $200, in small squares, $255-$290; premium, in large squares, $180-$190, in small squares, $290; good, in large squares, $170-$185, in small squares, $215-$220; fair, in large squares, $160-$170; utility, in large squares, $150-$160. Premium alfalfa/grass mix, in large squares, $185, instances $200, in round bales, $230. Premium grass, in small squares, $230-$260; good, in small squares, $210. Certified straw, $160.

Mountains/northwest: Premium grass, in large squares, $150-$160, horse hay ,$170, in small squares, $200-$240, instances $300; in round bales, $140-$150. Good, in large squares, $130-$140, in small squares, $170-$200, in large rounds, $125; fair, in large squares, $120-$130, small squares, $150-$175. Utility, in large squares, $100-$105, in large rounds, $90-$110.

In Missouri, the official arrival of winter came with a blast of extremely cold air and brutal wind chills. Transportation is still problematic in some northern areas state. Demand for most types of hay is light, Supply moderate to heavy, and prices steady.

Supreme alfalfa, RFV greater than 185, $170-$215, premium, RFV 170-180, $150-$175, fair/good, in large rounds, RFV 130-170, $90-$150, in large squares, $100-$160. Good quality mixed alfalfa and grass, in small squares, $3.50-$6.50/bale; in large rounds, $35-$80/bale. Good/premium prairie hay, in small squares, $80-$125. Fair/good, in large rounds, $40-$75. Good/premium brome, $90-$150; good brome, $60-$120; fair brome, some mixed with grass, in large rounds, $30-$50.

Good/premium mixed grass, $80-$150; good, $50-$100; fair/good, in large rounds, $25-$50. Fair/good bluestem, in large rounds, $40. Fair/good bermuda, in large rounds, $50-$65/bale, $70-$100. Good timothy, in small squares, $3.50-$5/bale. Wheat hay, $50-$70. Wheat straw, in small squares, $2.50-$4/bale.

In Oklahoma City, alfalfa hay prices are steady and movement is slow. The first day of winter was ushered in by strong winds and cold temperatures across the state. Very little moisture fell out of this weather system. Warmer temperatures and clearer skies are in the forecast for the remainder of the week. Most activity has slowed down due to the Holiday season. Grass hay movement is slow and prices are steady. The colder weather conditions have increased demand for the large inventories of grass hay.

Central/western: Premium alfalfa, large squares and large rounds, $165-$185, in small squares, $175-$195; good, in large squares, $130-$150, in small squares, $140-$160, in large rounds, $125-$145. Fair, in large squares, $105-$125, in large rounds, $100-$120. Wheat hay, in large rounds, $75-$85. Premium grass hay, in large squares, $60-$80, in small squares, $70-$90, in large rounds, $60-$80; good, in small squares, $60-$80, in large rounds, $50-$70; fair, $40-$60.

Panhandle/western feedlot area: Good grinding alfalfa, in the field or bale pile (spot), $120-$150. Chopped and delivered to feedlots (short haul), $140-$170.

In Texas, hay sales have been extremely limited during this holiday period as most of the users have procured adequate supplies to get them through the holidays, which is normal during this time of the year. Prices as a whole remain mostly steady, but spot sales on small bales of high quality alfalfa have begun to climb considerable as supplies dwindle.

Panhandle: Supreme alfalfa, in small squares, $292-$312 delivered; premium/supreme, $230-$250; good/premium, in large squares, $200-$230, delivered; supreme/premium, $200-$260; good/premium, $175-$200. Chopped alfalfa, delivered to feedlots, north: $195-$200; south: $200-$215. Coastal bermuda, in small squares, delivered, $7-$7.50/bale, premium in large rounds, delivered $140, $85/roll; good, $125-$135, $65/roll. Prairie hay, in small squares, delivered, $175-$190, $7/bale, in large squares, delivered $140-$160, in large rounds, delivered $85/roll. Sorghum/sudan grass, in large squares and rounds, delivered, $100. Wheat, in small squares, $4.65/bale delivered, in large rounds, $130. Hay grazer, in large rounds, $90-$140 delivered.

West: Premium/supreme alfalfa, in small squares, $230-$280, $7.50-$10/bale; good/premium, $200-$230, $7-$7.50/bale in large squares; premium/supreme, $220-$260; good/premium, $190-$230; good, $160-$190.

North, central and east: Premium/supreme alfalfa, in small squares, $240-$300 delivered, $7-$10.bale; good/premium, $6-$7/bale. Good/premium, $5-$7/bale in the barn; premium/supreme, in large squares, $230-$260; good/premium, $180-$230. Premium coastal bermuda, in small squares, $6-$8.50/bale; fair/good, $5-$6/bale; premium, in large rounds, $70-$90; good, $50-$70; fair, $40-$50/roll.

South: Good coastal bermuda, in small squares, $5-$7.50/bale, in large rounds, $50-$70; poor, $30-$40/roll.

Moderate demand for quality hay, strong for supplements

In Kansas, the hay trade is moderate. Demand was strong for alfalfa pellets, moderate for dairy, stock cow and grinding alfalfa, and prairie hay, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Dec. 24. Prices given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.

Southwest:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa steady. Movement moderate to active. Horse alfalfa, in small squares, $210-$250 (the best hay is all gone); supreme dairy, $185-$210, mostly $200, premium, $170-$185, good, $150-$175. Utility/fair grinding alfalfa, shipped in, $125-$150, at the edge of the field, $150 to mostly $160. Ground-on-the-truck, $172-$175. Ground and delivered locally to feedlots and dairies, $165-$190, contracts to $195. For the week ending Dec. 20, 11,077 tons grinding alfalfa and 2,090 tons of dairy alfalfa were delivered. Good straw, in large bales, $55-$60. Sudan/cane large bales, $70-$85. Milo stalks, in large bales, $60-$65.

South central:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa and alfalfa pellets steady. Movement moderate. Horse alfalfa, in small square, $200-$230, an instance $285, medium or large squares, $185; Supreme dairy, $185-$200; premium, $170-$185, good, $145-$170. Utility/fair grinding alfalfa, at the edge of the field, $100-$130. Ground and delivered locally to feedlots, $130-$150, an instance $155. For the week ending Dec. 20, 5,198 tons of grinding alfalfa and 847 tons of dairy alfalfa were delivered. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $180-$195; sun-cured, 17% protein, $185-$205; dehydrated 15% percent, $220 and 17% percent, $240. Good straw, in large bales, $55-$60. Milo stalks, in large bales, $55-$60. Cornstalks, in large bales, $50. Cane/sudan, in large bales, $70.

Southeast:

Alfalfa, brome and prairie hay steady. Movement slow to moderate. Horse/goat alfalfa, $180-$200. Premium/supreme dairy alfalfa, $175-$185, good, $130-$150, fair, $130. Good bluestem, in small squares, $90-$110, mostly $100, medium and large squares, $80-$90, an instance $110, large rounds, $50-$60. Mulch, in large rounds, $45 to mostly $50. Good brome, in small squares, $100-$110, in medium and large squares, $85-$100, in large rounds, $50-$70.

Northwest:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa steady. Movement moderate. Horse alfalfa, in small squares, $200-$250. Premium/supreme dairy, $175-$185, good, $165, fair, $120-$135. Utility/fair grinding alfalfa, at the edge of the field, $100-$110; Ground and delivered to feedlots and dairies, $130-$140. Milo stalks, in large bales, $55-$65.

North central/northeast:

Dairy/grinding alfalfa, prairie hay and brome steady. Movement slow to moderate. Horse alfalfa, in small squares, $200, in medium squares, $165-$185; Supreme dairy, $170-$200, premium, $160-$180, fair/good, $130-$150. Utility/fair grinding alfalfa, at the edge of the field, $70-$90, alfalfa ground-on-the-truck, $90-$110. Good bluestem grass, in small squares, $100, in medium squares, $70-$85, in large rounds, $50-$60, some $20-$40/large round delivered. Good brome, in small squares, $100-$130, medium squares, $90-$120, in large rounds, $50-$75, fair, $40-$50, some $20-$45/large round delivered. Straw, in small squares, $3-$3.50/bale, large bales, $50-$55.

Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service, Dodge City, Kan.