This past week hay movement was down while demand remained very light as no one seems to be interested in buying. Prices continue to weaken a bit with the abundance of other feed stuffs available. Grass hay is still trying to find its footing as prices tend to be all over the map. Alfalfa is headed into dormancy in the drier regions where producers state they will be done unless they get rain. Statewide topsoil moisture rated by percent short to very short is as follows: Kansas 55%, Nebraska 49%, South Dakota 32%, North Dakota 25%, Montana 68%, Wyoming 83%, and Colorado 58%, as per the USDA on August 4. According to the US Drought Monitor’s High Plains summary for the week of August 6th, the categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 46%, moderate drought (D1) increased to 40%, severe drought (D2) increased to 6.5%, 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. USDA-AMS REPORT

Southwest Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price $5.00-$10.00 lower and ground and delivered alfalfa price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow $120.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $95.00-$100.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s $95.00-$110.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $155.00-$160.00. Sudan large rounds and large squares $60.00-$70.00. Teff: small squares $9.00/bale, large rounds $130.00-$140.00/ton. Wheat straw: large rounds and large squares $90.00-$100.00 delivered. The week of 8/4-8/10, 4,693T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on August 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $177.20, down $11.40 from the previous month. Usage was 477T/day, down 13% from last month and total usage was 14,778.5T.

South Central Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price steady, Ground and delivered steady, and alfalfa pellet price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $115.00–$125.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $115.00-$125.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150.00-$160.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $250.00-$260.00, 17 pct protein $265.00-$275, Dehydrated 17 pct protein: $370.00-380.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds and large squares none reported. Brome, rounds and squares $100.00-$120.00. The week of 8/4-8/10, 6,464T of grinding alfalfa and 950T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on August 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $164.38, down $0.58 from the previous month. Usage was 192T/day, down 8% from last month and total usage was 5,959.5T.

Southeast Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem $5.00-$20.00 lower and brome hay price, largely unchanged. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, none reported. Good, stock cow, new crop $130.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem, old crop small squares $180.00-$185.00, large round, $110.00-$120.00, large square, 3×4 and 4×4’s $120.00-$135.00. Brome, mid square old crop 3×3’s $150.00-$165.00, large rounds $130.00-$140.00, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $130.00-$140.00. The week of 8/4-8/10, 945T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Grinding alfalfa prices are steady. Alfalfa: horse, premium small squares $310.00, good small squares $290.00. Dairy, Premium/Supreme, none reported. Stock cow, good, none reported, Alfalfa fair/good old crop 3×3’s $120.00, Fair/good grinding alfalfa, $100.00/T; Sudan large rounds none reported.

North Central-Northeast Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa price is steady, grinding alfalfa mostly steady, ground and delivered steady, and grass hay steady to $10.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares $12.00/bale; Stock Cow good, 3×4’s $145.00-$150.00; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90.00-$100.00, Mid square 3×3’s $165.00-$175.00, large square 3×4’s none reported. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150.00-$160.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$9.00/bale, large rounds $90.00.00-$100.00/t, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $120.00-$130.00/ton. Brome: small squares $9.00-$10.00/bale, large rounds $110.00-$120.00/t, large square $125.00-$135.00. Wheat straw: large round $60.00-$70.00. The week of 8/4-8/10, 321T of grinding alfalfa and 374T 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