Compared to the last report, demand and trade activity remained slow. Buyers have slowed way down on purchases of all types of hay. Grinding alfalfa price fell again for most regions, while grass hay was mostly steady. Producers report that demand and trades are extremely low, and it seems folks are not buying at any price while they continue to chew through old, previously purchased, high priced hay. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for September 26, the categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 17%, moderate drought (D1) decreased to 19%, severe drought (D2) remained at 25%, extreme drought (D3) decreased to 19%, and exceptional drought (D4) remained at 1%. Two-thirds (67%) of the topsoil in Kansas was still short or very short of moisture, according to USDA statistics.
**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 10.00 lower, and ground and delivered 20.00 lower; movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow 220.00-250.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds new crop 220.00-230.00, fair/weedy/grassy large rounds 185.00-195.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s new crop 225.00-235.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, new crop 240.00-250.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem: CRP large rounds 100.00/bale. Sudan: large rounds 165.00-175.00 delivered. Corn stalks: 95.00-105.00 delivered. The week of 9/24-9/30, 4,955T of grinding alfalfa and 550T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady; grinding alfalfa 10.00 lower, and ground and delivered steady to 5.00 lower; alfalfa pellets steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: horse, small squares 15.00/bale; Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, 235.00-245.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds new crop 210.00–220.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s new crop 210.00-220.00 delivered, rained on large square 3×4 and 4×4 140.00-150.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered 240.00-255.00, 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 9/24-9/30, 6,763.5T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy 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 delivered. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. 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 9/24-9/30, 960T 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 steady, grinding alfalfa 20.00 lower, ground and delivered steady to 20.00 lower; 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 220.00-230.00, (20) large square 3×4’s 235.00-245.00, Alfalfa ground and delivered 270.00-275.00. Alfalfa/Sudan grass mix ground and delivered 200.00. 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: small squares 5.00-6.00 per bale. The week of 9/24-9/30, 1,242T of grinding alfalfa and 345T 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.