This past week, demand remained light, while trades bumped up a bit. Prices were mostly steady but remained soft, with dairy hay price falling in a few areas. Drought continues to be the hot topic of discussion, but even though 98% of the state is experiencing drought, hay is still not moving. Producers have been harvesting milo and scratching in wheat, and although the wheat is coming up in most areas, it will need some rain soon to keep it from going backwards. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for October 22nd, warm temperatures have dominated the High Plains with departures ranging up to 12 degrees F above normal, especially in the northern portions of the region. Precipitation fell across much of the Great Plains last week, but amounts were not large enough to prevent further degradations across much of the region. The categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 23%, Moderate drought (D1) increased to near 50%, Severe drought (D2) increased to 24%, Extreme drought (D3) increased to 2%, and no 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 light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa $.10/point lower, grinding alfalfa and ground and delivered alfalfa prices, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.05-$1.15/point RFV. Good, Stock or Dry Cow none reported. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $95.00-$110.00, large square $95.00-110.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $140.00-$150.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, none reported. CRP, large rounds $60.00-$70.00 delivered, Oat hay, large rounds $100.00/t, Cane, large rounds $40.00-$50.00, Teff, large rounds $100.00-$110.00. The week of 10/20-10/26, 5,907T of grinding alfalfa and 150T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa prices $.10/point lower. Grinding alfalfa $5.00 lower, ground and delivered and alfalfa pellet price, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.00-$1.10/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $95.00–$105.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $100.00-$110.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $220.00-$230.00, 17 pct protein $230.00-$240.00, 17% dehydrated $350 (-15). Grass hay: Bluestem, none reported. Brome, $110.00-$120.00. The week of 10/20-10/26, 7,187.5T of grinding alfalfa and 300T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas
Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy Alfalfa steady, Bluestem and brome hay price remain steady. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Good, stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, none reported. Grass hay: Bluestem small squares $160.00-$180.00, large round $100.00-$110.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s $120.00-$140.00. Brome, small squares $6.00-$10.00/bale, 3×4 and 4×4’s $135.00-$145.00. Wheat straw large square $70.00. The week of 10/20-10/26 1,300T 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 steady. Grinding alfalfa, and grass hay all steady, ground and delivered $10.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV; Stock Cow good, none reported; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90.00-$100.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$9.00/bale, large rounds $80.00.00-$110.00/t. Brome: small squares $9.00-$10.00/bale, large rounds $100.00-$120.00/t, large square 3×4 and 4×4 $130.00/t. Wheat straw: none reported. The week of 10/20-10/26, 861T of grinding alfalfa and 150T 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