Weekly Hay Market Demand And Price Report For The Upper Midwest

Demand and Sales Activity

Compared to the previous week, small square bal e prices were down 6 % . Large square bale prices were up 3 %. Large rou nd bale prices were up 2 1 % . Sales activity was very light to light .

For Nebraska , hay prices were $2.50 lower on limited alfalfa hay sales . It appears there are a lot of forage products available. Premium hay still is selling for top dollar. Good to marginal hay is selling lower than last year. Rain fell across different areas of the state. Some producers reported alfalfa hay on the ground for 15 days before it was baled. For Iowa , hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . There w as very limited hay movement this week. Scattered rain showers in some reporting areas are making it very hard for producers to put up top quality hay. Some alfalfa in large squares is sold from $1.38 - $1.45 per RFV point delivered to the buyer.

In Sou th Dakota , hay prices were $8.05 high er . There was good demand for dairy quality hay ; good demand for high quality grass hay to start calves on feed ; and light demand for lower quality grass hay. Some hay growers were trying to put up third cutting alfalf a this week , but are now having to fight pop - up showers and slow drying conditions. Temperatures have been unseasonably cool this week. Hay growers would like to see some heat after the rains received to help the third cutting come along. Cool, overcast conditions this week with some warmer and more humid weather forecast for next week.

For Missouri , alfalfa hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Hay supply is moderate and demand is light . A fairly quiet and uneventful week as far as hay business goes. Many producers are waiting to see how much the recent moisture helps revive pastures. Hay movement remains very limited about the only sales currently taking place are local sales between neighbors and to some dairy farmers.

In Sout hwest Minnesota , hay prices were $ 10.85 high er . The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 86 percent complete . The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 28 percent complete . All hay conditions declined slightly to 69 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition s decreased to 64 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions were rated 2 percent very poor; 4 percent poor; 25 perce nt fair; 55 percent good; and 14 percent excellent.

There were no state hay reports this week for Illinois . The third cutting of al falfa hay was 43 % complete compared to the 5 - year average of 51 %. Pasture conditions increased slightly a nd were rated at 1% very poor; 4% poor; 28% fair; 55% good; and 12 % excellent.

For Wisconsin, hay prices were $15.05 high er at a quality - tested ha y auction in Fennimore . Dry weather persisted as crops continued through the latter stages of reproduction. Weekly rainfall totaled less than 0.25 inch across most of the state, although there were reports of heavy rain in excess of two inches in the nor theast and east - central counties. Growing conditions for Wisconsin crops remained mostly favorable, despite lingering short - term dryness. The second cutting was 95 percent complete. The third cutting was 38 percent complete. All hay condition was rated 81 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions declined a nd were rated at 3 % very poor ; 10 % poor; 32 % fair; 46 % good; and 9 % excellent.

From the August 12 Crop Production report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service:

Alfalfa and alfalfa m ixtures: Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2014 is forecast at 63.6 million tons, up 11 percent from 2013. Based on August 1 conditions, yield is expected to average 3.50 tons per acre, up 0.26 ton from last year. If realized, yield would be the second highest on record behind only the 1999 average yield of 3.51 tons per acre. Harvested area is forecast at 18.2 million acres, unchanged from June, but up 2 percent from 2013. New Mexico and Pennsylvania are expecting record high yield s in 2014. With the exception of the continuing drought in the far western United States, much of the growing season has been characterized by good moisture and cooler than average temperatures. This resulted in favorable conditions for most of the Nation ’s alfalfa hay crop. See Table 1 for production estimates and comparisons.

Other hay: Production of other hay is forecast at 77.2 million tons, down 1 percent from 2013. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 1.96 tons per acre, up 0.02 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 39.5 million acres, unchanged from June, but down 3 percent from 2013. Producers in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska , and Wyoming are expecting record high yields in 2014. Adequate moisture, excluding the far western States, has producers expecting similar yield and production as last year.

Source:uwex.edu