Compared to the last report on June 27th, demand remains good, trade activity slow to moderate, and prices dropped significantly lower in the last two weeks for grinding alfalfa. However, there is an undertone of strength to the grass hay market. Producers continue to try to swath and bale hay across south central and southwest regions but are having difficulty with all the rain. Meanwhile, in the eastern third of the state, rain is scarce on the prairie and with the poor brome harvest, grass price is expected to rise. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for July 4th, much of the Great Plains portion of the region, except for eastern Kansas, saw widespread precipitation, some of it heavy. Conditions continued to worsen in a majority of Kansas, particularly in the east and southeast where mostly dry weather continued. Given continued decreases in soil moisture and groundwater, and growing short- and long-term precipitation deficits, degradations were made from Manhattan to Fort Scott. The categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 11%, moderate drought (D1) increased to 24%, severe drought (D2) increased to 23%, extreme drought (D3) increased to near 31%, and exceptional drought (D4) increased to 7.5%. ** Prices below reflect the average price. There could be prices higher and lower than those published. FULL REPORT

Southwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady; grinding alfalfa 5.00-15.00 lower; ground and delivered 5.00 to 15.00 lower, movement slow to moderate. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow 300.00-315.00. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, old crop 285.00-295.00 (-5.00), new crop 280.00-290.00 (-15.00), large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s new crop 295.00-305.00(-5.00). Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies 335.00-345.00(-5.00), new crop 325.00-340.00(-15.00). Grass Hay: Bluestem: none reported. Corn stalks, ground and delivered 180.00-195.00. Milo, large rounds, 135.00-145.00, The week of 7/2-7/8, 9,568T of grinding alfalfa and 25T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, alfalfa pellets steady; and grinding alfalfa 5.00 to 15.00 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 275.00-290.00 delivered, new crop 260.00–275.00 delivered (-10.00), 3×4 and 4×4’s 285.00-295.00 delivered, new crop 270.00-280.00 delivered (-15.00). Alfalfa ground and delivered 315.00-325.00; Alfalfa/Soybean: ground and delivered 295.00-310.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein 320.00-330.00, 17 pct protein 345.00-360.00, Dehydrated 17 pct 420.00-425.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds 130.00-140.00, large squares 145.00-155.00, small squares 9.50-10.50/bale; Brome, large rounds 130.00-140.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 170.00-180.00, small squares 11.50-12.50/bale; Rye grass, new crop 3×4’s 235.00-245.00. Oat hay, large square 3×4’s 195.00-205.00 delivered, oat straw, large rounds, 100.00 fob. Wheat straw, large rounds 125.00-135.00, small squares 5.00-6.00/bale. The week of 7/2-7/8, 7,424T 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 square 3×4 275.00-285.00; Grass hay: Bluestem, large square 3×4 165.00-175.00, large round old crop 140.00-155.00. Brome, large square 185.00-195.00 delivered. The week of 7/2-7/8, 775T 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 300.00 new crop 1st cutting. 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 290.00-305.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered 280.00-300.00.

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 F.O.B.; Alfalfa ground and delivered 290.00-300.00; Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares new crop 8.00-9.00/bale, large 3×4 squares 150.00-160.00, good large rounds 140.00-180.00. Brome: large rounds, 140.00-150.00, large square 3×4’s 170.00-180.00. Sudan: large round 130.00-150.00. Wheat straw: large squares 120.00-130.00. Corn stalks: large squares 100.00-125.00 fob. The week of 7/2-7/8, 622T of grinding alfalfa and 125T 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.