Compared to the last report, demand increased but trade activity remained slow. Grinding alfalfa price fell again for most regions while grass hay was mostly steady. Producers have been busy in the fields with harvest, and if not harvesting, they are baling various forages and crop residues. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for September 19, although one-half to two inches of rain fell over parts of the High Plains region, including southern Kansas, most of the area remained dry. The rain Kansas received trimmed back the abnormally dry conditions in the southwest, but did little for the east, which saw an expansion of drought conditions. According to USDA statistics, 50% or more of the topsoil moisture is short or very short while 50% or more of the subsoil moisture is dry or very dry. Half of the pasture and rangeland in Kansas is in poor to very poor condition. **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 to 10.00 lower, and ground and delivered 5.00 lower; movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow 220.00-280.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds new crop 225.00-235.00, fair/weedy/grassy large rounds 185.00-195.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s new crop 235.00-245.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, new crop 260.00-270.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem: large rounds 100.00/bale. Sudan: large rounds 165.00-175.00 delivered. Corn stalks: 95.00-105.00 delivered. The week of 9/17-9/23, 5705T of grinding alfalfa and 550T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady; ground and delivered steady to 5.00 lower; grinding alfalfa 10.00-15.00 lower, alfalfa pellets steady, and movement slow. Alfalfa: horse, small squares 15.00/bale; Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, 240.00-250.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds new crop 210.00–225.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s new crop 210.00-225.00 delivered, rained on large square 3×4 and 4×4 140.00-150.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered 250.00-265.00, Alfalfa/forage mix ground and delivered 240.00-250.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein 315.00-325.00, 17 pct protein 325.00-335.00, Dehydrated 17 pct protein 410.00-420.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds 165.00-185.00 delivered, large square 3×4’s 150.00-160.00 FOB, small squares 195.00-205.00; Brome, old crop large rounds 150.00-160.00, new crop large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 175.00-185.00, small squares 245.00-250.00/ton. Oat hay, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 150.00-200.00 delivered; Mixed grass CRP large rounds, 115.00-125.00. Soybeans: large round 125.00-135.00; Wheat straw, large rounds 125.00-135.00, small squares 5.00-6.00/bale. The week of 9/17-9/23, 7,005T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady; grinding alfalfa 10.00 lower, grass hay mostly steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, stock cow 260.00-270.00 delivered. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 235.00-245.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares, 200.00-205.00, large square 3×4 175.00-185.00, large round 150.00-165.00. Brome, large round 160.00-170.00, large square 175.00-185.00. The week of 9/17-9/23, 1,080T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: Horse or goat, small squares none reported, 3×3 squares 300.00 new crop. Dairy, Premium/Supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds 235.00-240.00, large square 3×4’s 240.00-245.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered 260.00-280.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa 5.00 lower, ground and delivered steady; grass hay mostly steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares, 12.00-13.00/bale; Stock Cow 3×4’s 230.00-240.00; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds 240.00-250.00, large square 3×4’s 240.00-250.00, Alfalfa ground and delivered 275.00-300.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares new crop 9.00-10.00/bale, large 3×4 squares 165.00-175.00, good large rounds 150.00-170.00. Brome: small squares 10.00-11.00/bale, large rounds 130.00-180.00. Oat hay, large rounds 160.00; Sudan: large square 3×4’s 165.00-175.00. Wheat straw: large rounds 110.00-125.00 delivered, small squares 5.00-6.00 per bale. Corn stalks: large squares 100.00-125.00 FOB. The week of 9/17-9/23, 1,917T of grinding alfalfa and 400T 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.