This past week, demand remained very light however, hay movement picked up a bit in the southwest region where some larger trades of grinding hay and ground and delivered were made. Prices have continued to soften as producers are trying to get rid of last year’s hay which is in abundance, not only in Kansas but from Canada to Texas. The state remains dry and needs some precipitation but as harvest is ongoing, many are glad for the open weather. According to the US Drought Monitor’s High Plains summary for the week of September 10th, Kansas has experienced feast or famine precipitation since the beginning of summer. Some isolated, slow-moving thunderstorms provided good moisture in the center of the state, but abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions expanded along the Kansas western, southern and eastern borders. Eastern Colorado is beginning to show signs of a prolonged dry period, with moderate drought creeping further eastward from the Kansas border. Only 5% of the state is NOT experiencing any type of drought. The categorical percent area for abnormally dry conditions (D0) is at 39%%, moderate drought (D1) is 46%, severe drought (D2) is 10%, 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 $10.00-$15.00 lower and ground and delivered alfalfa price $5.00-$15.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $100.00-$115.00, large square $100.00-115.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $135.00-$145.00. Bluestem, none reported. The week of 9/8-9/14, 9,292T of grinding alfalfa and 0T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on September 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $173.86, down $3.34 from the previous month. Usage was 584T/day, up 22% from last month and total usage was 18,100T.

South Central Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices steady. Grinding alfalfa steady and alfalfa pellet price $10.00 lower, Ground and delivered mostly 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-$155.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $230.00-$240.00, 17 pct protein $235.00-$245.00, 17% dehydrated $365. Grass hay: Bluestem none reported. Brome, none reported. The week of 9/8-9/14, 5,228T of grinding alfalfa and 975T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on September 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $156.43, down $7.95 from the previous month. Usage was 212T/day, up 10% from last month and total usage was 6,562.5T.

Southeast Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Bluestem and brome hay price remain steady. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, $1.115-$1.25/point RFV. Good, stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem large round $110.00-$120.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s $130.00-$140.00. Brome 3×4 and 4×4’s $135.00-$145.00. Wheat straw large square $70.00. The week of 9/8-9/14, 2,241T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas
Little to no demand. Trade activity is slow. Alfalfa: horse, $175.00-$185.00. 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 steady to $10.00 lower, ground and delivered steady to 20.00 lower, and grass hay steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV; Stock Cow good, none reported; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90.00-$100.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $150.00-$160.00.00. 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 9/8-9/14, 1,080T 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