Demand remained strong this past week as hay inventories continued to decline. Hay shipments to states experiencing more severe drought conditions remained active, further tightening supplies in some areas. Much of the state received beneficial moisture over the past week, with additional precipitation in the forecast. According to the US Drought Monitor for the week of September 24th, Most of the High Plains received beneficial rainfall, resulting in improvement to drought categories over parts of all states in the region. More precipitation will be needed, however, to ameliorate the continued extreme drought over much of Colorado and Wyoming as well as parts of Montana, North and South Dakota, and western Nebraska. Areas of exceptional drought are still shown in much of central Colorado and western Nebraska. In Kansas, the categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 27%, Moderate drought (D1) stayed at 22%, severe drought (D2) stayed at 29%, extreme drought (D3) stayed at .5% and there was no exceptional drought (D4) recorded with 23% 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. Alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.10-$1.20/point RFV. Good stock cow, $265.00-$275.00. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large round and large square 3×4 $240.00-$250.00. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies $255.00-$265.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 and 17 pct protein $280.00-$290.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, none reported. Brome, none reported. Wheat straw, round $145.00-$155.00 delivered, small square $5.00/bale. Teff, large round $195.00.00-$205.00. The week of 9/20-9/26, 7,045T of grinding alfalfa, 0T of dairy alfalfa, and 100T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

South Central Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade moderate. Dairy alfalfa and grass hay, all steady. Grinding alfalfa $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.10-$1.15/point RFV. Horse hay, small square $18/bale. Medium square 3×3 $250.00. Good, stock cow, $225.00-$235.00. Fair/good, grinding alfalfa large round $180.00-$200.00, large square 3×4 $230.00-$240.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $250.00-$260.00. Alfalfa pellets: Sun cured 15 pct protein $280.00-$290.00, 17% dehydrated $355. Grass hay: Bluestem, large round $145.00-$155.00, large square 3×4 $95.00-$105.00, small square $10/bale. Brome, large square 3×4 $175.00-$185.00, medium square 3×3 $220.00-$230.00, small square $14/bale. The week of 9/20-9/26, 7,929T of grinding alfalfa, 198T of dairy alfalfa, and 421T of grass hay was reported bought or sold.

Southeast Kansas – Demand moderate to good. Trade slow to moderate. Dairy alfalfa and brome grass hay, all steady. Prairie hay $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy, $1.20-$1.30/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 $195.00–$205.00. Grass hay: Bluestem, large round $95.00-$105.00, large square 3×4 $120.00-$130.00, small squares $8/bale. Brome, large square 3×4 $160.00-$170.00, small square $12/bale. Wheat straw, round $70.00-$80.00, small square $6.00/bale. The week of 9/20-9/26, 1,762T of grass hay, 325T of grinding alfalfa, and 175T 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 grass hay, all steady. Prairie hay $5 lower. Alfalfa: Dairy $1.20-$1.30/point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large square 3×4 $195.00-$205.00. Alfalfa ground and delivered $185.00-$195.00. Grass Hay: Bluestem, large round $90.00-$100.00, large square 3×4 $115.00-$125.00, small square $8/bale. Brome, large round $145.00-$155.00, large square 3×4 $180.00-$190.00, small square, $10/bale. Wheat straw, round $65.00-$75.00, large square 3×4 $115.00-$125.00, small square $7/bale. The week of 9/20-9/26, 782T of grinding alfalfa, 300T of dairy alfalfa, and 1,038T 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.