**** DUE TO THE HOLIDAY, THERE WILL BE NO REPORT NEXT WEEK. THE NEXT REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED JANUARY 9TH. ****

Compared to the last report, demand remains low, and prices steady. Due to a couple of large purchases in the southwest region, total hay bought and sold was up overall, however, that is not indicative of the market, which remains slow for most regions. Most folks are still not trading much hay and only delivering on old contracts. Many producers report that it is pretty muddy out there and a dry up would be nice. On the other hand, a winter storm may get this sluggish hay market moving. Most folks continue to report that their hay is just not moving, and it doesn’t matter what type of hay it is. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for December 19th, moderate drought expanded a bit, in southeast Kansas, as streamflow and soil moisture dwindled, and short-term precipitation shortages grew. Moderate drought expanded a small amount in western Kansas, where short-term precipitation shortfalls grew amid higher-than-normal atmospheric thirst. The categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) remained at 25%, moderate drought (D1) increased to near 35.5%, severe drought (D2) remained at 23.5%, extreme drought (D3) remained at 7%, and no exceptional drought (D4) was recorded. **Prices below reflect the average price. There could be prices higher and lower than those published. FULL REPORT

Southwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered steady, grinding alfalfa steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.35-1.45/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow 240.00-250.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds 180.00-190.00 delivered, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s 180.00-190.00 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, new crop 230.00-240.00. Alfalfa/oat hay mixed ground and delivered 225.00-235.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem: CRP large rounds 75.00-100.00. Sudan, large rounds 70.00-90.00. Corn stalks: none reported. Teff: large rounds 220.00-230.00. The week of 12/17-12/23, 9,176T of grinding alfalfa and 625T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered and alfalfa pellets steady; movement slow. Alfalfa: horse, small squares 13.00/bale; Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, 225.00-235.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds 190.00–200.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s 195.00-205.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered 230.00-240.00. Alfalfa/Forage Mix ground and delivered 180.00-190.00. 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 none reported, small squares 200.00-205.00; Brome, small squares 245.00-250.00/ton. Sudan, large rounds 100.00-110.00. Milo, large rounds 95.00-105.00. Teff: none reported. The week of 12/17-12/23, 6,252T of grinding alfalfa and 125T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa steady, 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 rounds 190.00-200.00, large square 3×4’s none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares, 200.00-205.00, mid square 3×3’s 175.00-185.00, large square 3×4 170.00-185.00, large round 155.00-170.00. Brome, large round 160.00-170.00, large square 185.00-200.00. The week 12/17-12/123, 1,070T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: Horse or goat, small squares none reported, 3×3 squares, 300.00. Dairy, Premium/Supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds 190.00-200.00, large square 3×4’s 200.00-215.00, small squares 12.00/bale. Alfalfa ground and delivered none reported.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered and 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 210.00-220.00, large square 3×4’s 210.00-220.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered 245.00-275.00. 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 160.00-170.00, good large rounds 150.00-170.00. Brome: small squares 10.00-11.00/bale, large rounds 130.00-170.00. Oat hay, large rounds 160.00; Sudan: large round 130.00-160.00 delivered. Milo stalks: 70.00-90.00. Soybeans: 70.00-90.00. Wheat straw: small squares 5.00-6.00 per bale. Corn stalks: large round 60.00-70.00. The week of 12/17-12/23, 384T of grinding alfalfa and 575T 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.