Weekly Hay Market Demand and Price Report For The Upper Midwest As Of November 21 , 2014

Demand and Sales Activity

Compared to the previous week, small square bal e prices were up 92 % (one sale) . Large square bale prices were up 11 %. . Large round bale prices were up 7 % . Sales activity was very light to good .

For Nebraska , hay prices were steady to $0.60 high er on limited alfalfa hay sales . Overall hay movement has been slow this fall and producers continue to sell limited amo unts of hay. Most hay getting moved is going to dairies, feedlots that are weaning calves with a few orders going to cow/calf producers. Hay grinders stay busy as many feedlots and ranchers are grinding their own product instead of buying hay. For Iowa , hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Trading is very limited. N ot much top quality hay was produced this summer due to excessive moisture , so some hay is getting imported from surrounding states for dairy purposes.

In South Dakot a , hay prices were steady to $7.60 high er . There was v ery good demand for high testing hay for dairy cattle and also for lower feed value alfalfa if it’s green, in a large square bale, and been under a roof. Most of the demand for dairy hay is coming fro m out of state where high quality hay or just clean and green hay is harder to find. There was o nly moderate demand for lower quality alfalfa suitable only for grinding into feedlot rations and v ery good demand for good and p remium grass hay suitable for receiving and starting calves on feed.

There was g ood demand for corn stalks, as the window to get stalks put up was a very narrow one as the snow came very shortly after the cold weather arrived. High quality alfalfa is reported to be limited as it was a very challenging year for hay producers to put up that high testing hay. Untimely rains and poor curing conditions caused much lower quality hay to be made.

For Missouri , alfalfa hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Hay supply is moderate to heavy and demand is light . Not only has chopping ice become common practice the last week, but many producers are now feeding at least small amounts of hay. Even with the first snow fall of the year, the hay market is seeing little activity. Hay piles are quite large and abundant both in state and in other neighboring states which provide a good market for Missouri grown hay in many years. In Southwest Minnesota , hay prices were $ 81.25 highe r on very light sales . There was no report for I llinois .

For Wisconsin, hay prices were $ 7.25 high er at a quality - tested hay auction in Lancaster . Straw pric es in the Midwest averaged $ 3.63 per s mall square bale (range of $ 1.25 to $6.25 ); $ 37 . 74 per large square bale (range of $ 15.94 to $ 52.50 ) ; a nd $ 38.63 per large round bale (range of $ 25.00 to $ 50.0 0 ). Compared to the previous week, straw pric e s for small square bales were 3% high er . For la rge sq uare bales, prices were 14 % lower . For large round bales, prices were 15 % higher .

Source:uwex.edu