This past week, demand was light, and prices were steady. Trade was slow to moderate but saw an increase in the southwest region due to some larger alfalfa contracts. Overall, however, interest is just not picking up much and, currently, buyers have all types of forage and feed grains to pick from to include in their rations. Adding insult to injury, producers state that there is an abundance of rained hay. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for the week of July 29th, improvements continued from Kansas to North Dakota after another week of scattered shower activity with light-to-moderate accumulations. During the past 30 days, drought-related conditions have improved significantly in northern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, southeastern and southwestern South Dakota, and southwestern North Dakota as evidenced in a variety of drought monitoring products including streamflows, soil moisture, and vegetation health indicators. The categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 9%, Moderate drought (D1) decreased to 4%, Severe drought (D2) decreased to 1%, and no Extreme drought (D3) or Exceptional drought (D4) was recorded. Prices below reflect the average price. There could be higher and lower prices than those published.

Southwest Kansas Demand, light. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered alfalfa, steady. Grinding alfalfa, mostly steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.00-$1.10/point RFV. Good quality, Stock or Dry Cow $130.00-$140.00 delivered. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $110.00-$125.00 delivered and large squares $115.00-$120.00 delivered (-5). Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $150.00-$160.00. The week of 7/27-8/2, 11,855.5T of grinding alfalfa and 1,100T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas Demand, light. Trade activity, slow. Dairy alfalfa, alfalfa pellets, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered, steady. Alfalfa: small squares $10/bale. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.00-$1.10/point RFV. Good, Stock cow, $125.00-$135.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds $105.00–$115.00 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4’s $110.00-$120.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $140.00-$150.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $210.00-$215.00, 17% dehydrated $340. Grass hay: Bluestem, none reported. Brome, medium square $120.00-$130.00. The week of 7/27-8/2, 6,523T of grinding alfalfa and 250T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas Demand, light. Trade activity, slow. Dairy alfalfa steady, bluestem and brome hay price mostly steady. Dairy, $1.05-$1.10/point RFV. Alfalfa, small square $8.00-$10.00/bale. Good, stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square, first cut $100.00-125.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large round $75.00-$85.00, 3×4 and 4×4’s $110.00-$120.00, small squares $140.00-$160.00. Brome, large square $120.00-130.00. Wheat straw large square $60.00-$70.00. The week of 7/27-8/26 T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas Little to no demand. Trade activity is very slow. Stock cow, good, none reported. Horse hay, small squares $195.00-$205.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa large round and squares $90.00-$100.00. Wheat straw, large squares $90.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas Demand light. Trade activity is slow. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, alfalfa ground and delivered, bluestem, and brome, all steady. Alfalfa, horse hay, small square $10.00-12.00/bale, Alfalfa: Dairy $1.00-$1.05/point RFV; Stock Cow good, none reported; Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds $70.00-$80.00, 3×4 and 4×4 $105.00-$115 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large rounds $75.00-$85.00, large square $90.00-$100.00. Brome: large rounds $70.00-$80.00, large squares 125.00-135.00. Wheat Straw, large round and large square $45.00-65.00. The week of 7/27-8/2, T of grinding alfalfa and T 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.