This past week, demand held steady while movement ranged from slow to moderate. Ongoing drought concerns and declining alfalfa conditions have many producers holding onto inventory rather than selling. Many are watching the forecast and anticipating storms that could bring much-needed relief. According to the US Drought Monitor for the week of April 9th, in the High Plains Region, rainfall during the past week led to targeted improvements in far eastern portions of Kansas and Nebraska. Meanwhile, conditions deteriorated on the map in areas of central and western Kansas, and southwestern South Dakota. For the week, average temperatures were 4 to 10+ °F below normal across much of the region with the greatest departures observed in the Dakotas. Looking at climatological rankings for the past 60-day period, several locations ranked among their driest on record, including Dodge City, KS, Goodland, KS, and Manhattan, KS. In Kansas, the categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 30%, Moderate drought (D1) increased to near 50%, severe drought (D2) decreased to 5%, and a small pocket of extreme drought (D3) remained in the northwest corner of the state, there was no exceptional drought (D4) recorded. 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, $0.90-$1.00/point RFV. Good quality, stock or dry cow $130.00-$140.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large round and large square 3×4 $105.00-$115.00. 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 4/5-4/11, 5,215T of grinding alfalfa, 600T of dairy alfalfa, and 207T of grass hay was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $150.18, down $2.39 from the previous month. Usage was 456 tons per day, down 10% from last month and total usage was 14,138T.

South Central Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa and all grass hay steady, grinding hay $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $0.95-$1.05/point RFV. Horse hay, small square $16.00-$18.00/bale. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa large round $115.00-$125.00, large square 3×4 $105.00-$115.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $135.00-$145.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $215.00–$220.00, 17% dehydrated $335. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round $60.00-$80.00, small square $17.00-$18.00/bale. Brome, large round $70.00-$80.00. Wheat straw, large square $75.00-$85.00. The week of 4/5-4/11, 7,421T of grinding alfalfa, 325T of dairy alfalfa, and 552T of grass hay was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on March 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $145.58, up $14.73 from the previous month. Usage was 164 tons per day and total usage was 1,994T.

Southeast Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade slow to moderate. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $0.90-$1.00/point RFV. Good, stock or dry cow, $150.00-$160.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 $100.00–$115.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round and large square 3×4 $95.00-$105.00, small squares $165.00-$175.00. Brome, large square 3×4 $135.00-$145.00, medium square 3×3 $175.00-$185.00, small square $190.00-$200.00. Wheat straw, large round $70.00. The week of 4/5-4/11, 1,191T of grass hay, 146T of grinding alfalfa, and 75T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade activity slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa $1.00-$1.05/point RFV. Horse hay, medium square 3×3 $175.00-$185.00, small square $195.00-$205.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round and large square 3×4 $100.00-$115.00 delivered.

North Central-Northeast Kansas – Demand light to moderate. Trade activity slow to moderate. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $0.95-$1.05/point RFV; Horse hay, small square $13.00/bale, medium square 3×3 $220.00-$230.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large round $85.00-$95.00 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered $130.00-$140.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round and large square 3×4 $90.00-$100.00, small square $9.00/bale. Brome, small square, $145.00-$155.00. Wheat straw, large round and large square $65.00-$75.00. The week of 4/5-4/11, 575T of grinding alfalfa, 400T of dairy alfalfa, and 759T 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.