Hay movement was mostly steady this past week. Increased moisture across the state limited some producers’ ability to move hay. There is still an abundance of grinder-quality hay, putting slight pressure on prices. High-quality alfalfa remains in high demand and is moving quickly. According to the US Drought Monitor for the week of December 4th, in the High Plains Region, only minor changes were made in the region. In eastern Kansas, two areas of lingering Moderate Drought (D1) were removed in response to improving conditions during the past 90-day period. For the week, some beneficial snowfall was observed across the northern Plains, with accumulations ranging from 1 to 14 inches. The highest accumulations were logged in areas of North Dakota. In terms of average temperatures, cooler-than-normal temperatures (5 to 20+ degrees F below normal) were observed across the region, with the greatest anomalies observed in the Dakotas. In Kansas, the categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 19%, Moderate drought (D1) decreased to 5.5%, and there was no severe (D2), extreme (D3) or exceptional drought (D4) recorded, with more than 75% of the state experiencing no drought. Prices below reflect the average price. There could be prices higher and lower prices than those published.

Southwest Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa $0.05 lower, grinding alfalfa, ground and delivered, and grass hay, steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $0.90-$0.95/point RFV. Good quality, stock or dry cow $140.00-$150.00 delivered. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds and large squares $100.00-$115.00 delivered. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $145.00-$155.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 and 17 pct protein $230.00. Alfalfa, small square $10.00/bale. Bluestem, large round $115.00, large square $90.00 delivered. Brome, large square $160.00 delivered, small square $10.00/bale. The week of 11/30-12/6, 7,055 T of grinding alfalfa, 525T of dairy alfalfa, and 409 ton of grass hay was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on November 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $149.30, down $8.99 from the previous month. Usage was 561 tons per day, down 2% from last month and total usage was 16,827T.

South Central Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.00-$1.05/point RFV. Good quality, stock or dry cow $130.00-$140.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds and squares $105.00–$115.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $140.00-$150.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $210.00–$215.00, 17% dehydrated $335. Alfalfa/Oat mix, chopped $147.00. Bluestem, large round $100.00 delivered. Brome, large round and large square $120.00–$125.00 delivered, small square $9/bale. Teff, large square $140.00. Wheat, large round and large square $75.00-$85.00. The week of 11/30-12/6, 9,132T of grinding alfalfa, 400T of dairy alfalfa, and 186 ton of grass hay was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots of November 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $142.53, down $0.27 from the previous month. Usage was 708 tons per day and total usage was 21,247T.

Southeast Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa steady, stock cow $10 higher, grinding alfalfa $10 lower. Dairy, $1.00-$1.05/point RFV. Good, stock cow, $120.00-$130.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares $105.00–$115.00 delivered. Bluestem, large round $70.00-$80.00, large squares $105.00-$125.00, small squares $145.00-$155.00. Brome, large square $120.00-130.00, small square $200.00. Wheat, large round and large square $80.00-$90.00 The week of 11/9-11/15, 1,141T of grass hay, 225 ton of grinding hay, and 100 ton of dairy hay was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas – Demand light. Trade activity slow. Stock cow, none reported. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large squares $110.00-$120.00. Alfalfa, medium square 3×3, $150.00, small square $175.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade activity slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, grinding alfalfa, alfalfa ground and delivered, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $.90-$1.00/point RFV; Good stock cow, $155.00-$165.00, delivered. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large rounds and squares $105.00-$115.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00.00. Bluestem, large round $95.00-$105.00, small square $9.00/bale. Brome, large round $150.00. Wheat, large square $90.00. The week of 11/30-12/6, 1,291T of grinding alfalfa, 50T of dairy alfalfa, and 457Tton of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Wrapping up your Kansas Hay Market Report. This is Tessa Beeman with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS, baling out until next time.