Compared to the last report demand remained good, prices remained steady, trade activity was slow to moderate. Producers state that the hay business has slowed down and are mostly moving previously purchased hay. Finding hay to purchase remains difficult and many are holding on to the hay they have till we get a little closer to spring. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for February 14th, Kansas just cannot seem to break the grip of the drought. Although a few counties in the northeast have been cleared of any drought or abnormally dry conditions, moderate to exceptional drought stubbornly remains across the southwest. Abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 18%, moderate drought (D1) decreased to 8%, severe drought (D2) remained near 12%, extreme drought (D3) decreased to 17%, and exceptional drought (D4) remained near 37%. ** Prices below reflect the average price. There could be prices higher and lower than those published. FULL REPORT

Southwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered steady, movement slow to moderate. Alfalfa: horse, supreme small squares 12.00-14.00/bale. Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow 295.00-305.00. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, 285.00-300.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 300.00-310.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies 340.00-350.00. Alfalfa/grass hay mix ground and delivered 290.00-300.00; Grass Hay: Bluestem: large round 155.00-165.00. Oat hay: large 3×4’s 165.00-175.00. Corn stalks: none reported. The week of 2/12-2/18, 6,829T of grinding alfalfa and 1,500T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on February 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $299.00, up $16.95 from the previous month, usage was 676T/day, up 11.5% from last month and total usage was 20,956 T.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered, and alfalfa pellets steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: horse, small squares 325.00/ton. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, 300.00-310.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds 290.00-300.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s 315.00-325.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered 300.00-315.00; Alfalfa/Soybean: ground and delivered 295.00-305.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein 325.00-335.00, 17 pct protein 345.00-350.00, Dehydrated 17 pct 395.00-400.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large rounds none reported. CRP 110.00-120.00. Sudan: 3×4 and 4×4’s 200.00-210.00, large round 125.00-130.00. Corn stalks: large rounds 110.00-120.00, ground and delivered 220.00-230.00. Soybean stalks, large rounds 115.00-125.00. Failed Soybean bales, large round, and large squares, 140.00-180.00. Soybeans ground and delivered, 220.00-225.00. Milo: large rounds 130.00-140.00; Wheat straw: 100.00-105.00. The week of 2/12-2/18, 7,983T of grinding alfalfa and 719T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on February 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $262.19, up $9.21 from the previous month, usage was 234T/day, up nearly 11% from last month and total usage was 7,260 T.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa and grass hay steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, stock cow 260.00-270.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 290.00-295.00; Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares 160.00-165.00, good 3×4 squares 160.00-170.00, large round 120.00-130.00, Brome, 3×4 and 4×4 squares 155.00-165.00. Corn stalks: large round 120.00-130.00 delivered. The week of 2/12-2/18, 1,156T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa and grinding alfalfa steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: Horse or goat, small squares 345.00-355.00 delivered, 3×3 squares 305.00-320.00 delivered. Dairy, Premium/Supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4’s 300.00-315.00. Milo stalks, large rounds 145.00-150.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered and bluestem grass hay steady, grinding alfalfa steady to 5.00 lower, movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares, 12.50-13.50/bale, 3×4’s 290.00-300.00; Stock Cow 3×4’s none reported. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds 240.00-250.00, large square 3×4’s 240.00-250.00; Alfalfa ground and delivered 275.00-300.00; Alfalfa/Prairie grass mix ground and delivered 270.00-275.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares 8.00-8.50/bale, large 3×4 squares 150.00-160.00, good large rounds 140.00-150.00. Brome: small squares 9.00-9.50/bale, large square 3×4’s 170.00-180.00. Sudan: large rounds 155.00-165.00 delivered, large square 3×4’s 160.00-170.00 delivered. Wheat straw: small squares 6.00/bale, large rounds 110.00-115.00, large squares 115.00-125.00. Corn stalks: large rounds 95.00-100.00, corn stalks ground and delivered 145.00-155.00. The week of 2/12-2/18, 890T of grinding alfalfa and 234T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

THIS HAS BEEN YOUR KANSAS HAY MARKET REPORT. THIS IS KIM NETTLETON WITH THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MANHATTAN, KS