Hay State by State Overview – High Plains Journal

Colorado-In the July 25 report, compared to the previous report, trading activity and demand are light. Grower asking prices remain largely unchanged this week. Several end users are not even bidding on newly harvested hay. Stable hay is generally selling steady. According to the NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report for the week ending July 21, second cut alfalfa is 33% harvested, third cut is 5%. Stored forage inventories were reported as 4% very short, 12% short, 76% adequate and 8% surplus.

Missouri—In the July 25 report, hay prices are weak compared to the previous report, hay supply is moderate, and demand is low. Several producers in the state, particularly in the south, are currently dealing with an infestation of armyworms. Although they appear every year, it is speculated that the moths were blown in by hurricane winds a few weeks ago and have resulted in a larger than normal infestation this year. Haymaking is still quite strong and producers have been able to replenish their supplies. This has resulted in a very slow market as there is not much demand from buyers at this time.

Nebraska-In the July 25 report, compared to the previous report, baled hay sales were steady. Hay ground and delivered steady. Dehydrated pellets in the Platte Valley were steady with dehydrated and sun dried pellets in the eastern part of the state down $20. Demand is light to moderate. Seems to be more willing sellers than buyers for most hay products. Best demand is for hay going to the dairies in the easy to transport large square bales. Hail has taken out several turns of corn that had to be chopped for silage or harvested for high moisture corn for feedlots. Some corn will still be chopped but tonnage will be significantly down in these fields. It will be interesting to see where the feedlots find their forage supply. Will it increase the price of alfalfa in those areas? Time will tell.

Oklahoma-In the July 12 report, compared to the previous report, the hay trade is at a standstill due to slow demand. Due to an excess supply of 2023 hay, new hay still being baled, and rain showers continuing to blanket the state through the summer. The next report will be released on August 2.

Texas-In the July 26 report, hay prices are down in most regions compared to the previous report, but in the Panhandle they are down as much as $10 to $20. The lower prices in the Panhandle are partly due to timely rains that allow producers to remain on summer pastures and hay coming in from out of state. Heavy rains in the north and parts of the south have pasture conditions that generally range from fair to excellent. While in the Panhandle, western and central regions, pasture conditions are generally poor to fair. Hay sales are still fairly limited due to poor to moderate demand. Hay quality is mixed, with much of the hay in the south offering in the utility to fair range. This is largely due to rains and winds from Hurricane Beryl, which delayed mowing, causing the crop to mature before the fields were dry enough for producers to mow. The next report will be released on August 9.

South Dakota-In the July 26 report, compared to the previous report, demand was lower than normal for this time of year. According to the US Drought Monitor website, South Dakota is experiencing generally normal soil conditions, except that western South Dakota is experiencing abnormally dry to moderately dry soil conditions.

New Mexico-Hay is stable in the July 25 report compared to the previous report, with much of the hay being put in barns. With extreme heat and some flooding in some areas of the state, some fields are struggling. According to the July 21 New Mexico Crop Progress report, nearly all producers saw adequate to abundant moisture last week. Alfalfa hay is 98% complete on the second cut, 23% complete on the third and 9% on the fourth cut,

Wyoming-In the July 25 report, compared to the previous report, hay prices remain steady. Demand is moderate. Some hay producers are finally cutting ties with last year’s hay inventory and taking less money per ton for their hay than they wanted, but many have to make room for this year’s production. Warm, dry weather across the state with temperatures in the high 90s to low 100s, but on the bright side, most of the state has low humidity. Low humidity makes it difficult to keep leaves on their alfalfa hay. But bright LED lights on their tractors help as they bale hay all night long. Tonnage reports continue to differ from last year for a variety of reasons across the state.

Montana-In the July 26 report, compared to the previous report, hay sales were generally flat to weak. New crop hay continues to see slow movement as most producers see light interest. Rancher-to-rancher sales are impacting the market as many ranchers are choosing to sell new crop hay while feeding old crop hay this winter. Demand for hay is generally light. Demand for export hay is light as many exporters have purchased sufficient hay supplies from last year that have yet to be shipped. Additionally, a strong dollar is hampering the purchase of additional hay for export. Western states, where the largest volume of hay is purchased for export, continue to sell hay at prices similar to current Montana prices. This makes shipping hay west difficult due to freight costs. New crop hay yields remain light across the state. Most producers are blaming a cooler, wet spring. Many producers say yields are down 15% to 30% compared to last year.