This past week hay movement was steady while demand remained very light with very little change in activity from the previous week. Prices have continued to soften as producers are trying to get rid of last years hay and make room for the new crop. Scattered rainstorms throughout the eastern part of the state caused some delays in putting up hay. Statewide topsoil moisture rated by percent short to very short is as follows: Kansas 52%, Nebraska 43%, South Dakota 37%, North Dakota 17%, Montana 82%, Wyoming 73%, and Colorado 52%, as per the USDA on August 25. According to the US Drought Monitor’s High Plains summary for the week of August 20th, 8% of the state is not experiencing any drought, the categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 92%, moderate drought (D1) stayed at 50%, severe drought (D2) increased to 11.76%, 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 USDA-AMS REPORT

Southwest Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices are steady. Grinding alfalfa price steady and ground and delivered alfalfa price $5.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $110.00-$125.00, large square $115.00-120.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $140.00-$160.00. Bluestem, none reported. The week of 8/25-8/31, 7,412T 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 steady. Grinding alfalfa and alfalfa pellet price steady, Ground and delivered steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $95.00–$105.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $110.00-$120.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $145.00-$160.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $240.00-$250.00, 17 pct protein none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem none reported. Brome, none reported. The week of 8/25-8/31, 5,907T of grinding alfalfa and 975T 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, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem large round $110.00-$130.00. Brome none reported, wheat straw large square $70.00. The week of 8/25-8/31, 2,080T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, none reported. Stock cow, good, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa large round $100.00; 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 $5.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Stock Cow good $180.00; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90.00-$110.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150.00-$180.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$9.00/bale, large rounds $80.00.00-$110.00. Brome: small squares $9.00-$10.00/bale, large rounds $100.00-$120.00, large square 3×4 and 4×4 $130.00. Wheat straw: none reported. The week of 8/25-8/31, 624T 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