This past week, demand was light, and trades were slow to moderate. Prices were mostly steady with some downward pressure on last year’s hay. There still seems to be plenty of hay to purchase, if buyers and sellers can come to an agreement on price. Mother nature threw below freezing temperatures and snow at us last week, while providing us with warm weather and thoughts of spring planting this week. It would be nice if she would leave us with this nice weather and pack away her winter weather for the year, but I’m sure that is too much to ask. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for the week of February 18th, almost all the High Plains were at least 15 degrees below normal for the week. Only a few slight changes occurred in the region last week, with far southeast Nebraska and far northeast improvements to Kansas’ abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions. Abnormally dry conditions were removed from northeast Colorado along the Kansas and Nebraska borders. The categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 44.5%, Moderate drought (D1) decreased to 21.5%, and no Severe drought (D2), 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 REPORT

Southwest Kansas Demand, moderate. Trade activity is moderate. Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa price steady. Alfalfa and ground and delivered $5.00 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.05-$1.15/point RFV. Good quality, Stock or Dry Cow hay $115.00-$125.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $100.00-$110.00, large square $100.00-110.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $150.00-$160.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large rounds and squares $80.00-$85.00 delivered. The week of 2/16-2/22, 13,387T of grinding alfalfa and 50T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas Demand, moderate. Trade activity is slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, Ground and delivered and alfalfa pellet price, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.00-$1.10/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, $100.00-$120.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $100.00–$110.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $100.00-$110.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $140.00-$150.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $220.00-$225.00, 17 pct protein $225.00-$230.00, 17% dehydrated $350. Grass hay: Bluestem, none reported. Brome, none reported. Sudan, large rounds, $50.00-$60.00. The week of 2/16-2/22, 6,537T of grinding alfalfa and 112.5T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, and brome hay price, steady. Bluestem $10.00 lower. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, $1.05-$1.10/point RFV. Good, stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares $105.00-$115.00. Grass hay: Bluestem small squares $160.00-$165.00, large round $80.00-$95.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s $95.00-$100.00 (-10) Brome, small squares $6.00-$10.00/bale, large rounds $100.00-$110.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s $115.00-$130.00. Wheat straw large square $70.00. The week of 2/16-2/22, 1,395.50T 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 and squares $90.00-$100.00; Sudan large rounds none reported.

North Central-Northeast Kansas Demand light to moderate. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa and ground and delivered steady. Brome grass and bluestem hay $10.00 lower. Grinding alfalfa $5.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV; Horse or goat small squares 13.00/bale; Stock Cow good, $145.00-$155.00; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $90.00-$95.00, 3×4 and 4×4 $110.00-$115.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$8.50/bale, large rounds $80.00.00-$90.00, large squares $90.00-$100.00. Brome: small squares $8.00-$9.00/bale, large rounds $80.00-$90.00, large square 3×4 and 4×4 none reported. The week of 2/16-2/22, 667T of grinding alfalfa and 87.5T 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.