Weekly Hay Market Demand And Price Report For The Upper Midwest As Of November 7, 2014

Demand and Sales Activity

Compared to the previous week, small square bal e prices were down 2 %. Large square bale prices were down 6 % . Large round bale prices were up 16% . Sales activity was very light to moderate .

For Nebraska , hay prices were steady to $22.70 higher on limited alfalfa hay sales . Buyer inquiry was better this week. Most prospective buyers continue to shop around for the best deals that their pocket book can handle. Some farmers done with fall harvest other are waiting for their corn to dry down. Many people are busy putting up corn stalk bales. For Iowa , hay prices were $35.00 lower on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Most haying is done for this year; some producers will bale some cornstalks for feeding or bedding purposes. Demand is good for dairy hay with light demand on all other types of hay.

In South Dakota , hay prices were steady to $ 8.60 high er . There was ver y good demand for high relative feed value alfalfa and high quality grass for starting calves, moderate demand for hay fitting the Fair and Good grades, light demand for Utility grade hay. High testing, dairy quality hay is in limited supply this year due to untimely large rains which made it difficult to put up hay of high quality. Light reported sales this week. Corn harvest is wrapping up and fall fertilizing and tillage is underway. Cattle producers are busy weaning calves and getting them started i n backgrounding lots or marketing them.

For Missouri , alfalfa hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Hay supply is moderate to heavy and demand is light . Another week of favorable weather allowed farmers to gain ground and are now ve ry close to normal harvest progress for this time of year. There are reports of some farmers doing some fall tillage in preparation for next year’s grain crop. Hay movement is very slow. A few gooseneck loads moving sporadically overall, however, very fe w sales currently occurring.

In Southwest Minnesota , hay prices were $ 36.65 low er .

The demand for Illinois hay remained light to moderate, with market activity slow to moderate, for moderate to heavy offerings. Prices were $38.25 higher . Demand was m oderate to good for the better quality hay for dairy and horse interests. Interest in all hay has increased in the last couple of weeks, with buyers making contact trying to line up some of their hay supplies before colder weather sets in. It was a good year for hay production, according to the October Crop Production report released by the National Ag Statistics Service. In the report, Illinois produced 1.312 million tons of alfalfa and alfalfa mixed hay during the 2014 growing season, from 320,000 ac res, with an average yield of 4.10 tons per acre. That compares to 1.224 million tons produced in 2013, with an average yield of 3.60 tons per acre. In the All Other hay category, Illinois produced 825,000 tons from 330,000 acres, with an average yield of 2.50 tons per acre. Total hay production for the 2014 season was estimated to be 2.137 million tons from 650,000 acres. The demand for wheat straw was good to very good, especially for small square bales, with trading moderate to active, for light to m oderate supplies of straw.

For Wisconsin, hay prices were $ 14.80 high er at a quality - tested hay auction in Fennimore . The fourth cutting was 9 5 percent complete. Reporters commented that hay stocks were variable this year, as frequent rains made it diff icult to access hay stands and make dry hay.

However, overall hay and roughage supplies were up over last year, with 4 percent short statewide compared to 26 percent short in 2013. Pasture conditions are no longer being listed . Straw pric es in the Midwe st averaged $ 3.67 per s mall square bale (range of $ 3.00 to $5. 00); $ 44.67 per large square bale (range of $ 30.00 to $ 60.00 ) ; and $ 37.94 per large round bale (range of $ 28.75 to $ 55.00 ). Compared to the previous week, straw pric e s for small square bales we re 8% low er . For la rge sq uare bales, prices were 10 % high er . For large round bales, prices were 15 % lower .

Source:uwex.edu