Compared to the last report, demand has slowed, and trade activity is slow to moderate. Grinding alfalfa prices continue to soften while higher quality alfalfa has retained its value. Grass hay prices are steady to a touch higher. Some producers are having trouble putting up their second or third cutting, as all have struggled to put up hay without any rain on it. Low testing hay, therefore, is moving to the grinder market. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for July 11th, Heavy rainfall soaked much of south-central and southwestern Kansas, with 4 to locally 8 inches observed in many areas. Significant drought reduction resulted, although some degree of longer-term dryness remained in most locations. Although more improvement than deterioration occurred last week, exceptional drought (D4) remained over parts of southeastern Kansas, portions of west-central and north-central Kansas, and a few patches in eastern Nebraska. The categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 14%, moderate drought (D1) increased to near 27%, severe drought (D2) decreased to 22%, extreme drought (D3) decreased to near 28%, and exceptional drought (D4) decreased to 6%. ** 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 and ground and delivered steady to 5.00 lower, movement slow to moderate. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow 220.00-280.00. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, old crop 285.00-295.00, new crop 275.00-285.00 (-5.00), large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s new crop 295.00-305.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies 330.00-340.00 (-5.00), new crop 320.00-335.00
(-5.00). Grass Hay: Bluestem: none reported. Oat hay, new crop 3×4’s 160.00-170.00; Corn stalks, ground and delivered 180.00-195.00. The week of 7/9-7/15, 7,932T of grinding alfalfa and 25T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $318.69, down $15.31 from the previous month, which includes mixed hay loads, usage was 653T/day, up nearly 2% and total usage was 19,584T.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, alfalfa pellets steady; and grinding alfalfa 5.00 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 old crop 270.00-285.00 delivered (-5.00), new crop 260.00–275.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s 285.00-295.00 delivered, new crop 260.00-270.00 delivered (-10.00). 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 415.00/t. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds 130.00-140.00, large squares 145.00-155.00, small squares 9.50-10.50/bale; Brome, new crop large rounds 165.00-185.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 175.00-185.00 (+5.00), 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. Mixed grass CRP large rounds, 115.00-125.00. Wheat straw, large rounds 125.00-135.00, small squares 5.00-6.00/bale. The week of 7/9-7/15, 6,520T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $265.85, down $31.90 from the previous month, which includes mixed hay loads, usage was 168T/day, down 5% and total usage was 5,039T.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa steady to 5.00 lower, grass hay mostly steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, stock cow 280.00-290.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 270.00-280.00 (-5.00); Grass hay: Bluestem, large square 3×4 170.00-180.00 (+5.00), large round old crop 140.00-155.00. Brome, large square 185.00-195.00 delivered. The week of 7/9-7/15, 706T 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 200.00-230.00, large square 3×4’s 240.00-255.00, Alfalfa ground and delivered 275.00-300.00; 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 180.00-190.00. 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 7/2-7/15, 1,003T of grinding alfalfa and 225T 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.