Weekly Hay Market Demand And Price Report For The Upper Midwest As of January 24, 2015

Demand and Sales Activity

With moderate temperatures this past week hay supplies at auction s w as good , but demand w as light c ompared to the previous week . Small square bales increased because of limited sales of only prime and grade 1 hay . Large square bale prices were $1.00 per ton weaker this week , but premium quality alfalfa demands a good price. L arge round bale prices were up 9 % with increase d price in m edium to lower quality hay . Summing up the markets, s ales activity was light , supplies were good, quality hay sold for a good price , and large round bale hay saw a price increase .

For Nebraska , compared to the last report alfalfa hay sold unevenly steady .

For Iowa , premium quality s mall square alfalfa bales sold for a good price , while other classes of hay prices were weaker .

In South Dakota , hay prices were steady with l ight reported volume this week.

For Missouri , hay movement has moved up a tick. Most sales of large round bale s are occurring between neighbors . Decreased fuel prices have encouraged the sale of dairy quality hay, but decreased milk prices have offset the fuel savings .

In Southwest Minnesota , no hay prices were repo rted this week. F or Illinois , Dyersville market had heavy offerings with a fair demand. Premium quality dairy hay was in demand with good prices, while lower quality hay prices were weak.

In Wisconsin, hay prices improved compared to last week with an inc rease in fair and good quality large packaged bales . Straw pric es in the Midwest averaged $ 2 . 95 per s mall square bale (range of $ 1 . 5 0 to $ 5.00 ); $ 40 . 5 0 per large square bale (range of $ 3 5 .00 to $ 46 .00 ) ; and $ 37 . 0 0 per large round bale (range of $ 27 . 5 0 to $ 42 . 5 0 ). Compared to the previous week, straw pric e s for small square bales w ere steady. For la rge sq uare bales, prices were up slightly , while large round bale s w ere weaker . There is good demand for quality small square bales of wheat straw .

Source:uwex.edu