Compared to the previous reporting period, hay movement remained slow but steady. Producers have been actively engaged in field management activities, including fertilizing bromegrass stands and applying insecticide treatments to alfalfa fields in response to weevils and other insect pests that have appeared early due to the warm weather. According to the US Drought Monitor for the week of March 12th, although late winter is a relatively dry time of year across the Central Great Plains, periods of unseasonably warm temperatures and enhanced winds this past month led to intensifying drought across northeastern Colorado and Nebraska. 30-day temperatures averaged 6 to 10 degrees F above normal throughout the Great Plains. A 1-category degradation was made this past week to parts of Kansas and South Dakota. In Kansas, the categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 31%, Moderate drought (D1) stayed at 13%, severe drought stayed at 2.5% (D2), and there was no extreme (D3) or exceptional drought (D4) recorded, with almost 54% 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. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $0.95-$1.00/point RFV. Good quality, stock or dry cow $150.00-$160.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large round $105.00-$115.00, large square 3×4 $95.00-$105.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $145.00-$155.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 and 17 pct protein $230.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large square 3×4 $90.00 delivered, small square $10.00/bale delivered. Brome, large square 3×4 $160.00 delivered. The week of 3/8-3/14, 3,343T of grinding alfalfa, 525T of dairy alfalfa, and 276T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $0.95-$1.00/point RFV. Horse hay, small square $15.50-$17.50/bale. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa large round and large square 3×4 $105.00-$115.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $140.00-$150.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $215.00–$220.00, 17% dehydrated $335. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round $95.00 delivered. Brome, none reported. Wheat straw, large square $75.00-$85.00. The week of 3/8-3/14, 8,165T of grinding alfalfa, 375T of dairy alfalfa, and 115T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa, steady. Stock cow $5 higher, grinding alfalfa $10 lower, large square brome $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $0.90-$1.00/point RFV. Good, stock or dry cow, $150.00-$160.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round and large square 3×4 $95.00–$105.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round $75.00-$85.00, large square 3×4 $85.00-$105.00, small squares $160.00-$170.00. Brome, small square $190.00-$200.00, large square 3×4 $135.00-$145.00. Wheat straw, large round $70.00. The week of 3/8-3/14, 1,382T of grass hay, 100T of grinding alfalfa, and 100T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas – Demand light. Trade activity slow. Dairy alfalfa $1.00-$1.05/point RFV. Premium horse hay, medium square 3×3 $300.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round and large square 3×4 $100.00-$115.00 delivered. Alfalfa/Orchard mix, medium square 3×3, $350.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade activity slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa steady. Grinding alfalfa and large round bluestem $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $0.95-$1.00/point RFV; Good, stock or dry cow, none reported. Horse hay, small square $13.00/bale, medium square 3×3 $220.00-$230.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large round $90.00-$100.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $130.00-$140.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round and large square 3×4 $85.00-$95.00, small square $9.00/bale. Brome, small square, $145.00-$155.00. The week of 3/8-3/14, 402T of grinding alfalfa, 400T of dairy alfalfa, and 644T 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.