This past week, demand was light, and trades remained slow to moderate. Prices were mostly steady. Although there is still hay to purchase, most buyers and sellers can’t seem to come to a price they both agree on. These crazy weather extremes have many scratching their heads as they attempt to fertilize brome and alfalfa. Windy conditions prevailed last week and with little precipitation, wildfire danger is high. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for the week of March 4th, abnormal dryness expanded in response to unusually dry weather in the last few months in southern Kansas. The categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 53%, Moderate drought (D1) remained the same at 25%, 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, light to moderate. Trade activity is slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, alfalfa and ground and delivered, steady. 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 3/2-3/11, 6,782T of grinding alfalfa and 25T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $152.64, up $0.26 from the previous month. Usage was 515T/day, down 8% from last month and total usage was 14,423T.

South Central Kansas Demand, light to 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, $110.00-$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 3/2-3/11, 7,539T of grinding alfalfa and 264T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $137.24, down $13.84 from the previous month. Usage was 261T/day, up 35% from last month and total usage was 7,575.5T.

Southeast Kansas Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, bluestem and brome hay price, steady. Alfalfa: horse or goat, none reported. Dairy, $1.05-$1.10/point RFV. Good, stock cow, 120.00-125.00. 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 $100.00-$120.00. Brome, small squares $6.00-$10.00/bale, large rounds $100.00-$110.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s $110.00-$125.00. Wheat straw large square $70.00. The week of 3/2-3/11, 1,436T 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, ground and delivered steady. Brome and bluestem grass steady. Grinding alfalfa in the bale $5.00 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.20/point RFV; Horse or goat small squares 13.00/bale; Stock Cow good, $140.00-$150.00; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $80.00-$90.00, 3×4 and 4×4 $100.00-$105.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, small squares $8.00-$8.50/bale, large rounds $75.00-$85.00, large squares $85.00-$95.00. 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 3/2-3/11, 398T of grinding alfalfa and 167T 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.