Compared to the last report demand remains good, trade activity remains slow, and prices remained mostly steady. Hay is starting to hit the ground, even with rain chances, and new crop prices continue to trickle in. However, there seems to be a standoff between buyers and sellers, with buyers wanting lower prices before purchasing and sellers wanting to maintain current price due to dry conditions. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for May 30th Locally heavy rain fell over western parts of the High Plains region while eastern parts had a dry week. Two inches or more of rain fell in localized parts of northeast Colorado and western Kansas, prompting a pullback of abnormal dryness or moderate to exceptional drought. But continued dry conditions in the eastern portions of the region resulted in expansion of abnormal dryness to extreme drought in eastern Kansas. Based on May 28 USDA data, 69% of the winter wheat crop in Kansas was in poor to very poor condition, while 50% of the topsoil moisture was short or very short and subsoil moisture was rated 68% very short to short. The categorical percent area for Abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to near 10.5%, moderate drought (D1) increased to 13.5%, severe drought (D2) increased to 15%, extreme drought (D3) increased to near 25%, and exceptional drought (D4) decreased to 32%. ** 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, new crop 300.00-310.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 300.00-310.00, new crop 300.00-310.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies 340.00-350.00, new crop 345.00-355.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem: 155.00-165.00. Corn stalks, ground and delivered 180.00-195.00. The week of 5/28-6/3, 4,373T of grinding alfalfa and 325T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, and alfalfa pellets steady, grinding alfalfa steady to 10.00 lower, 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 285.00.00-295.00.00 delivered (-10.00), new crop 285.00–295.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s 290.00-300.00 (-5.00) delivered, new crop 295.00-300.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered 315.00-325.00; Alfalfa/Soybean: ground and delivered 295.00-310.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein 325.00-340.00, 17 pct protein 345.00-360.00, Dehydrated 17 pct 420.00-425.00. Rye grass, new crop 3×4’s 235.00-245.00. The week of 5/28-6/3, 7,133T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa steady, 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 3×4 275.00-285.00; Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares 170.00-180.00, good 3×4 squares 165.00-175.00, large round 140.00-155.00. Brome, large square 190.00-200.00 delivered. The week of 5/28-6/3, 932T 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.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered, grinding alfalfa steady, and bluestem grass hay steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares, 12.00/bale, 3×4’s 290.00-300.00; Stock Cow 3×4’s 230.00-240.00. New crop 280.00-300.00; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds 250.00-260.00, large square 3×4’s 250.00-275.00, new crop 290.00-300.00 fob; Alfalfa ground and delivered 290.00-300.00; Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares none reported, large 3×4 squares 150.00-160.00, good large rounds 150.00-160.00. Brome: large rounds, 150.00-160.00. Sudan: large round 130.00-150.00. Wheat straw: large squares 120.00-130.00. Corn stalks: large squares 135.00-145.00 delivered. The week of 5/28-6/3, 672T of grinding alfalfa and 100T 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.