Grinding alfalfa prices continue to soften while higher quality alfalfa has retained its value. Grass hay prices are steady to a touch higher. Some producers are having trouble putting up their second or third cutting, as all have struggled to put up hay without any rain on it. Low testing hay, therefore, is moving to the grinder market. Prices are based on averages and given on a per-ton basis, unless otherwise noted.
Southwest:
Dairy alfalfa steady; grinding alfalfa and ground and delivered steady to $5 lower, movement slow to moderate. Alfalfa: Dairy, 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock or dry cow, $220-$280. Grinding alfalfa, large rounds, old crop, $285-$295, new crop, $275-$285, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, new crop, $295-$305. Ground and delivered locally to feed lots and dairies, $330-$340, new crop $320-$335. Oat hay, new crop 3×4 squares, $160-$170. Corn stalks, ground and delivered, $180-$195. For the week ending July 15, 7,932 tons of grinding alfalfa and 25 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $318.69, down $15.31 from the previous month, which includes mixed hay loads, usage was 653 tons/day, up nearly 2% and total usage was 19,584 tons.
South central:
Dairy alfalfa, ground and delivered, alfalfa pellets steady; and grinding alfalfa $5 to $10 lower, movement slow. Horse alfalfa, small squares, $325/ton. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock cow, $295-$305. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds old crop, $270-$285 delivered, new crop, $260–$275 delivered, 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $285-$295 delivered, new crop $260-$270 delivered. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $315-$325. Alfalfa/soybean, ground and delivered, $295-$310. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% protein, $320-$330, 17% protein, $345-$360, dehydrated 17% protein, $415. Bluestem grass hay, large rounds, $130-$140, large squares, $145-$155, small squares, $9.50-$10.50/bale. Brome, new crop large rounds, $165-$185, large 3×4 and 4×4 squares, $175-$185, small squares, $11.50-$12.50/bale. Rye grass, new crop 3×4 squares, $235-$245. Oat hay, large 3×4 squares, $195-$205 delivered, oat straw, large rounds, $100 FOB. Mixed grass CRP large rounds, $115-$125. Wheat straw, large rounds, $125-$135, small squares, $5-$6/bale. For the week ending July 15, 6,520 tons of grinding alfalfa and no dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold. The average paid by feedlots on July 1 for alfalfa ground and delivered was $265.85, down $31.90 from the previous month, which includes mixed hay loads, usage was 168 tons/day, down 5% and total usage was 5,039 tons.
Southeast:
Dairy alfalfa steady, grinding alfalfa steady to 5 lower, grass hay mostly steady, movement slow. Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Good stock cow, $280-$290. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large 3×4 squares, $270-$280. Bluestem grass hay, large 3×4 squares, $170-$180, large rounds old crop, $140-$155. Brome, large squares,
$185-$195 delivered. For the week ending July 15, 706 tons of grass hay was reported bought or sold.
Northwest:
Dairy alfalfa and grinding alfalfa steady, movement slow. Horse or goat alfalfa, small squares, $300-$320, 3×3 squares, $300 new crop first cutting. Dairy, premium/supreme 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Stock cow, fair/good, $295-$300. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large 3×4 squares, $290-$305. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $280-$300.
North central/northeast:
Dairy alfalfa, ground/delivered, grinding alfalfa steady, and bluestem grass hay steady, movement slow. Alfalfa: Dairy 1.40-1.50/point RFV. Premium horse hay, small squares, $12/bale, 3×4 squares, $290-$300. Stock cow 3×4 squares, $230-$240, new crop, $280-$300. Fair/good grinding alfalfa, large rounds, $200-$230, large 3×4 squares, $240-$255. Alfalfa ground and delivered, $275-$300. Bluestem grass hay, small squares new crop, $8-$9/bale, large 3×4 squares, $150-$160, good large rounds, $140-$180. Brome, large rounds, $140-$150, large 3×4 squares, $180-$190. Sudan, large rounds, $130-$150. Wheat straw, large squares, $120-$130. Corn stalks, large squares, $100-$125 FOB. For the week ending July 15, 1,003 tons of grinding alfalfa and 225 tons of dairy alfalfa was reported bought or sold.
