Compared to the last report demand remains good, prices remained steady, trade activity was slow. Contributors report that new hay sales continue to be slow as there is not much out there to buy. Concerns remain high for this year’s hay crop, due to the lack of precipitation. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for March 14th, some of the nation’s most serious drought conditions persisted across southern sections of the High Plains region, mainly across Kansas and Nebraska. Kansas, like other areas of the central and southern Plains, has an impressive gradient between drought-free conditions, in the east, and extreme to exceptional drought, in southern and western sections of the state. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, topsoil moisture in Kansas was rated 66% very short to short, while more than half (52%) of the winter wheat was rated in very poor to poor condition. Some of the D4 areas in Kansas received record-low annual precipitation totals during 2022 and have not received much, if any, cold-season drought relief. In the hardest-hit areas, drought impacts—besides damaged rangeland/pastures and poor winter wheat conditions—include frequent episodes of blowing dust and limited surface water supplies in streams and ponds. The categorical percent area for Abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 9.5%, moderate drought (D1) decreased to near 9.5%, severe drought (D2) remained near 13%, extreme drought (D3) decreased to 16%, and exceptional drought (D4) increased to 36%. ** 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. 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, 290.00-305.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 300.00-315.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies 340.00-350.00. Alfalfa/grass hay mix ground and delivered 300.00-310.00; Grass Hay: Bluestem: 145.00-155.00. Corn stalks: none reported. The week of 3/12-3/18, 3,782T of grinding alfalfa and 1,050T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, and alfalfa pellets steady, grinding alfalfa mixed, 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 320.00-330.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered 315.00-330.00; Alfalfa/Soybean: ground and delivered 300.00-315.00. 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. Sudan: large round 125.00-130.00. Corn stalks: large rounds 110.00-120.00. Soybeans, large round 140.00-150.00. Milo: large rounds 125.00-135.00. The week of 3/12-3/18, 7,741T of grinding alfalfa and 100T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, steady, grinding alfalfa mixed, grass hay 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 rounds none reported, large square 3×4 260.00-270.00; Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares 160.00-165.00, good 3×4 squares 160.00-170.00, large round 130.00-140.00, Brome, 3×4 and 4×4 squares 155.00-165.00. Corn stalks: large round 120.00-130.00 delivered. The week of 3/12-3/18, 1,520T 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, grinding alfalfa, ground/delivered and bluestem grass hay steady, 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 220.00-230.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds 235.00-245.00, large square 3×4’s 260.00-270.00 delivered; 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, none reported, large rounds 130.00-150.00. Sudan: large square 3×4’s 130.00-140.00 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. The week of 3/12-3/18, 880T of grinding alfalfa and 175T 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

(Ecostrat wants to buy large amounts of wheat straw and corn stover in Kansas. Their main customers are mushroom producers and straw processing plants. If there’s enough straw in a specific area, they can organize baling. Ecostrat is open to work with large growers and straw aggregators alike. Please contact Shamri Hamit at (416) -968-8884 x 241 or shamri@ecostrat.com for more information)