Compared to the previous week, hay prices remained steady, while movement slowed in some areas. The outlook for upcoming cuttings of alfalfa is largely dependent on rainfall over the next week. Demand remains strong for high-quality prairie hay, with a majority of available supplies being shipped out of state to areas experiencing drier conditions. According to the US Drought Monitor for the week of August 13th, in the High Plains, moderate to heavy rainfall doused portions of eastern Kansas and adjacent Nebraska, leading to some limited relief, but totals were considerably lower elsewhere. Over the past 30 days, most locations outside the highest elevations of Wyoming and Colorado have recorded well below normal precipitation, with less than 25 percent of normal amounts recorded over central and southwestern Kansas and much of North Dakota. In Kansas, the categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) increased to 30%, Moderate drought (D1) decreased to 25%, severe drought (D2) decreased to 7%, there was no extreme drought (D3) or exceptional drought (D4) recorded with 37% 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. Dairy alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Grinding alfalfa $5 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Premium/Supreme large square 3×4 $250.00-$260.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 $205.00-$215.00. 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, small square $10/bale. Corn stalks, large round $100.00-$110.00. Oat hay, large square 3×4 $165.00-$175.00. Wheat straw, round $140.00-$150.00 delivered. The week of 8/9-8/15, 7,259T of grinding alfalfa, 525T of dairy alfalfa, and 750T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade moderate. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.15/point RFV. Premium/Supreme, large square 3×4 $250.00-$260.00, small square $13/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 8/9-8/15, 6,397T of grinding alfalfa, 650T of dairy alfalfa, and 192T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade slow to moderate. Alfalfa, all steady. Small square grass hay $10 higher. 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 $210.00-$215.00. Brome, large square 3×4 $180.00-$190.00, small square $300.00-$315.00. Wheat straw, round $70.00-$80.00, small square $6.00/bale. The week of 8/9-8/15, 1,393T 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. Dairy alfalfa and prairie hay, all steady. Grinding alfalfa $10 lower, large round brome $10 higher. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.15-$1.25/point RFV. Premium/Supreme large square 3×4 $270.00-$280.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round $165.00-$175.00, large square 3×4 $175.00-$185.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $180.00-$190.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round $115.00-$125.00, small square $8/bale. Brome, large round $160.00-$170.00, 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 8/9-8/15, 1,492T of grinding alfalfa, 200T of dairy alfalfa, and 784T 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.