Compared to the last report demand remains good, prices remained steady, trade activity remains slow. The current outlook of the 2023 hay crop remains bleak. Although some areas have received rain which helped green things up, most places report little precipitation, and all crops are going backward. Even the irrigated alfalfa is short due to cool weather and dry conditions. New crop pricing is very slow to come in and have been hear-say versus actual contracted trades. It should be no surprise, however, that pricing is expected to start off at current prices if not bump up a bit. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for May 2nd, a 1-category improvement was made to southwestern Kansas due to recent rainfall. However, extreme and exceptional drought (D3-D4) is expected to continue across much of western and central KS. Wichita has only received 0.72 inches of precipitation from March 1 to April 30, which made it the 2nd driest March and April on record and the driest since 1936. The categorical percent area for Abnormally dry conditions (D0) remained near 7%, moderate drought (D1) decreased to near 8%, severe drought (D2) increased to near 12%, extreme drought (D3) increased to 23.5%, and exceptional drought (D4) decreased to near 40%. ** 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 14.00-15.00/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 305.00-315.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies 340.00-350.00. Alfalfa/grass hay mix ground and delivered 310.00-320.00; Grass Hay: Bluestem: 150.00-160.00. Corn stalks: none reported. The week of 4/30-5/6, 4,704.25T of grinding alfalfa and 550T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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 300.00-310.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered 320.00-330.00; 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 none reported. Corn stalks: none reported. The week of 4/30-5/6, 6,604.5T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

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 3×4 265.00-275.00; 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 4/30-5/6, 1,049T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa and grinding alfalfa steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: Horse or goat, small squares 300.00-320.00, 3×3 squares 305.00-320.00 delivered. Dairy, Premium/Supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good 295.00-300.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4’s 295.00-310.00. Milo stalks none reported.

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 280.00-290.00 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 none reported, large 3×4 squares 150.00-160.00, good large rounds 150.00-160.00. Brome: small squares none reported, large square 3×4’s, none reported, large rounds, 130.00-150.00. Sudan: large round 130.00-150.00. Wheat straw: small squares none reported, large rounds none reported, large squares 120.00-130.00. Corn stalks: large squares 135.00-145.00 delivered. The week of 4/30-5/6, 1,020T of grinding alfalfa and 150T 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.