This past week hay movement was steady while demand remained very light with very little change in activity from the previous week. Prices continue to weaken a bit with the abundance of other feed stuffs available. Rain across the state brought much needed moisture, while also causing flooding and delays in putting up hay in some areas. Statewide topsoil moisture rated by percent short to very short is as follows: Kansas 54%, Nebraska 42%, South Dakota 37%, North Dakota 24%, Montana 75%, Wyoming 78%, and Colorado 68%, as per the USDA on August 4. According to the US Drought Monitor’s High Plains summary for the week of August 13th, the categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 63%, moderate drought (D1) decreased to 27%, severe drought (D2) increased to 6.9%, 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 higher and ground and delivered alfalfa price steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $105.00-$125.00, large square 3×4’s and 4×4’s $105.00-$115.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $155.00-$160.00. Sudan large rounds and large squares none reported. Teff: small squares $9.00/bale, large rounds $140.00-$150.00/ton. Wheat straw: large rounds and large squares none reported. The week of 8/11-8/17, 4,390T of grinding alfalfa and 250T 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 steady. Grinding alfalfa and alfalfa pellet price $5.00-$10.00 lower, Ground and delivered steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, $110.00-$120.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $100.00–$110.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $115.00-$125.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $145.00-$160.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $240.00-$250.00, 17 pct protein, Dehydrated 17 pct protein, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds and large squares none reported. Brome, rounds and squares $100.00-$120.00. The week of 8/11-8/17, 6,768T 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 and brome hay price remain steady. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, none reported. Good, stock cow, new crop $115.00-$$130.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem, new crop small squares $180.00, large round, $95.00-$115.00, large square, 3×4 and 4×4’s $120.00-$135.00. Brome, mid square old crop none reported, large rounds none reported, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s none reported, wheat straw large round $100.00. The week of 8/11-8/17, 1,129T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, premium small squares $310.00, good small squares $290.00. Dairy, Premium/Supreme, none reported. Stock cow, good, none reported, Alfalfa good new crop 3×3’s $180.00, Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported; 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 $5.00-$10.00 higher, and grass hay steady to $5.00 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Horse hay, premium small squares $12.00/bale; Stock Cow good, none reported; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90.00-$100.00, Mid square 3×3’s none reported, large square 3×4’s none reported. Alfalfa ground and delivered $160.00-$180.00. Premium alfalfa, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s $240.00-$250.00, Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00/bale, large rounds $90.00.00-$115.00/t, large square 3×4 and 4×4’s none reported. Brome: small squares $9.00-$10.00/bale, large rounds $110.00-$120.00/t, large square none reported. Wheat straw: large round $70.00-$90.00. The week of 8/11-8/17, 426T of grinding alfalfa and 125T 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