Compared to the last report, demand remains low to moderate for all hay and prices are soft for all regions. There still seems to be no interest in buying and no new crop pricing has been reported. The word “drought” is on many producers’ minds and lips, as warm, dry, and windy weather has dominated. Some regions report a blue tinge to the wheat and the alfalfa fields are exhibiting some stress. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for April 9th, A strengthening low pressure system on April 6 and 7 brought high winds to the Great Plains which dried out topsoil especially across Kansas and southeastern Colorado. The categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 52%, moderate drought (D1) remained near 27%, severe drought (D2) remained just under 2%, and no extreme drought (D3) or 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
Demand low. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price steady, and Ground and delivered alfalfa price $10.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.35-$1.45/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $115.00-$125.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s $115.00-$125.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $180.00-$190.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $195.00-200.00, 17 pct protein $205.00-$210.00. Teff: small squares $9.00/bale; Sudan, large squares none reported. The week of 4/7-4/13, 6,427T of grinding alfalfa and 250T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on April 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $211.47, down $17.01 from the previous month, usage was 626T/day, up 6 % from last month and total usage was 19,407T.

South Central Kansas
Demand low to moderate. Trade activity is slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa prices steady. Grinding alfalfa steady, Ground and delivered price steady, and Alfalfa pellets $10.00-$15.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.30-$1.40/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, $190.00-$200.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $140.00–$150.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $140.00-$150.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $190.00-$200.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $280.00-$285.00, 17 pct protein $280.00-$285, Dehydrated 17 pct protein: $385.00-$400.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $200.00, large rounds $100.00-$120.00, large square 3×4’s none reported. Sudan, large rounds $70.00-$80.00. The week of 4/7-4/13, 5,268T of grinding alfalfa and 150T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on April 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $201.29, down $5.22 from the previous month, usage was 224T/day, up 4 % from last month and total usage was 6,947T.

Southeast Kansas
Demand low. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, Bluestem and Brome hay price steady. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy $1.35-$1.45/point RFV. Good, stock cow none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds none reported, large square 3×4’s none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $200.00-$205.00, large round $140.00-$150.00, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $170.00-$180.00. Brome, small squares $200.00-$205.00, large rounds none reported, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $180.00-$200.00. Corn stalks: large rounds $55.00-$65.00. The week 4/7-4/13, 982T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Demand low. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa $.05/point lower, grinding alfalfa prices are steady. Alfalfa: horse, small squares $13.25/bale. Dairy, Premium/Supreme $1.35-$1.45/point RFV. Stock cow, good, none reported, Alfalfa Good 3×3’s $180, Premium 3×3’s $225.00, Fair/good grinding alfalfa: none reported; Sudan large rounds $60.00-$70.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Demand low. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa $.05./point lower. Grinding alfalfa steady, Ground and delivered $5.00-$10.00 lower. Grass hay mostly steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.30-$1.40/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares 13.00/bale; Stock Cow 3×4’s none reported; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $150.00-$160.00, large square 3×4’s $160.00-$170.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $185.00-$200.00, alfalfa/sudan mix ground and delivered $195.00-$205.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$9.00/bale, large rounds $115.00-$135.00, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $140.00-$150.00 . Brome: small squares $10.00-14.00/bale, large rounds $95.00-100.00/bale, large square none reported. Wheat straw: none reported. The week of 4/7-4/13 567T of grinding alfalfa and 123T 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