Compared to last week, prices and movement remained mostly steady. Demand has begun to strengthen as concerns over limited supplies of alfalfa and brome hay increase. Prairie hay prices remain at some of the highest levels seen in recent years, supported by continued drought conditions across the western part of the state. According to the US Drought Monitor for the week of August 6th, conditions varied significantly across the High Plains Region last week. Heavy rains of 2 to 5 inches with isolated higher amounts fell on northeastern South Dakota, a large part of northern and eastern Nebraska, and northeastern Kansas. Moderate to heavy amounts were observed elsewhere across the eastern and central sections of the Dakotas and Nebraska, southern and north-central and east-central Kansas. Most of North Dakota, the western half of South Dakota, western Nebraska, and northeastern Colorado saw conditions deteriorate, as did southern Kansas adjacent to Oklahoma. In Kansas, the categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 22%, Moderate drought (D1) increased to 26%, severe drought (D2) decreased to 5%, there was no extreme drought (D3) or exceptional drought (D4) recorded with 46% 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 moderate to good. Trade moderate to good. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Ground and delivered $5 lower, large round wheat straw $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Premium/Supreme large round $240.00-$250.00, large square 3×4 $250.00-$260.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa, large round and large square 3×4 $200.00-$210.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $245.00-$255.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 and 17 pct protein $280.00-$290.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large square 3×4 $100.00-$115.00. Brome, none reported. Corn stalks, large round $100.00-$110.00. Wheat straw, round $140.00-$150.00 delivered. The week of 8/2-8/8, 8,756T of grinding alfalfa, 625T of dairy alfalfa, and 700T of grass hay was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $200.99, up $12.22 from the previous month. Usage was 418 tons per day, down 32% from last month and total usage was 12,949T.

South Central Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade moderate. Dairy alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Wheat straw $5 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.15/point RFV. Premium/Supreme, large square 3×4 $260.00-$270.00, small square $15/bale. Good, stock cow, $200.00-$210.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa large round $170.00-$180.00, large square 3×4 $190.00-$200.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $240.00-$250.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $260.00-$270.00, 17% dehydrated $330. Grass hay: Bluestem, small square $10.00/bale. Brome, large square 3×4 $175.00-$185.00, small square $15/bale. Wheat, large square 3×4 $155.00-$165.00. The week of 8/2-8/8, 5,802T of grinding alfalfa, 650T of dairy alfalfa, and 171T of grass hay was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $195.64, up $11.72 from the previous month. Usage was 35 tons per day, down 11.3% from last month and total usage was 1,047T.

Southeast Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade slow to moderate. Alfalfa and brome grass, all steady. Large square prairie hay $5 higher, small square prairie hay $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Good stock cow, $185.00-$195.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 $180.00–$190.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large round $95.00-$105.00, large square 3×4 and 4×4, $115.00-$125.00, small squares $155.00-$165.00. Brome, large square 3×4 $180.00-$190.00, small square $295.00-$305.00, small square $17.00/bale. Wheat straw, round $70.00-$80.00, small square $6.00/bale. The week of 8/2-8/8, 1,204T of grass hay, 175T of grinding alfalfa, and 125T of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.

Northwest Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade activity slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Premium/Supreme, large square 3×4 $220.00-$230.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 $205.00-$215.00.

North Central-Northeast Kansas – Demand moderate. Trade activity slow to moderate. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.15/point RFV. Premium/Supreme large square 3×4 $270.00-$280.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round $170.00-$180.00, large square 3×4 $185.00-$195.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $190.00-$200.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round $115.00-$125.00. Brome, large round $140.00-$150.00, large square 3×4 $180.00-$190.00, small square, $9/bale. Wheat straw, round $90.00-$100.00, large square 3×4 $115.00-$125.00, small square $5.50/bale. The week of 8/2-8/8, 1,392T of grinding alfalfa, 50T of dairy alfalfa, and 830T 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.