Compared to the last report demand remains good, prices remained steady, trade activity remains slow. Not much new to report. Kansas remains dry and the wind continues to blow. As one producer put it “even the jack rabbits are carrying canteens”. There is a very real sense of concern for this year’s hay crop across the state and several producers have stated they have lost partial stands of alfalfa. Adding insult to injury, weevil and cut worms are making themselves known. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for April 11th, deterioration occurred in the southern extent of the region in Kansas where both short and long-term precipitation deficits exist (ranging from 4 to 16 inches during the past 12-month period). Moreover, other drought-related indicators, such as surface and root zone soil moisture, are showing very low moisture levels (ranging from the 2nd to the 20th percentile) across Kansas as well as much of Nebraska, according to NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (NASA SPoRT). Abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to near 7%, moderate drought (D1) increased to near 12%, severe drought (D2) remained near 13%, extreme drought (D3) decreased to 13%, and exceptional drought (D4) increased to near 43.5%. ** 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 300.00-315.00. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, 295.00-300.00, 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 300.00-320.00; Grass Hay: Bluestem: 150.00-160.00. Corn stalks: none reported. The week of 4/9-4/15, 4,428T of grinding alfalfa and 575T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on April 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $317.45, up $7.38 from the previous month, usage was 626T/day, down almost 8% and total usage was 19,407T.

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, 295.00-305.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds 290.00-300.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s 310.00-320.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered 315.00-325.00; 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. The week of 4/9-4/15, 7,028T of grinding alfalfa and 750T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on April 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $266.35, down $1.53 from the previous month, usage was 266T/day, down nearly 8% and total usage was 7,519.5T.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, 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 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 140.00-150.00. Brome, large square 180.00-200.00 delivered. Corn stalks: large round 120.00-130.00 delivered. The week of 4/9-4/15, 1,345T 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 230.00-240.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds 235.00-245.00, large square 3×4’s 270.00-280.00 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 150.00-160.00. Brome: small squares 9.00-9.50/bale, large square 3×4’s, none reported, large rounds, 130.00-150.00. Sudan: large round 130.00-150.00. Wheat straw: small squares 6.00/bale, large rounds none reported, large squares 120.00-130.00. Corn stalks: large squares 140.00-150.00 delivered. The week of 4/9-4/15, 799T of grinding alfalfa and 300T 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.