Data Compiled by Richard Halopka Senior Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Division of Extension Clark County Crops & Soils Educator
All hay prices quoted are dollars per ton FOB point of origin for alfalfa hay unless otherwise noted.
The information presented in this report is compiled from public and private quality tested sales and reports in the Midwest.
Previous hay reports can be viewed on the archive.
Hay auction data is collected on the first and third week of the month and posted by or before Tuesday. Prices quoted in this report are for “as fed” alfalfa hay.
Demand and Sales Comments
Dry areas of Midwest have higher prices with dairy quality hay supporting the market at auctions. Wisconsin has a good supply of forage going into the winter feeding season. If you have questions on this report contact richard.halopka@wisc.edu. If you need forage or have forage to sell or straw, connect to the Farmer-to-Farmer website. You may contact your local county agriculture educator if you need help placing an ad. There is no charge for the service.
Upper Midwest Hay Price Summary by Quality Grade
Hay Grade |
Bale type |
———- Price ($/ton) ———- |
||
Average |
Minimum |
Maximum |
||
Prime (> 151 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
$312.00 |
$240.00 |
$400.00 |
|
Large Square |
$253.00 |
$150.00 |
$350.00 |
|
Large Round |
$211.00 |
$150.00 |
$265.00 |
Grade 1 (125 to 150 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
$191.00 |
$160.00 |
$240.00 |
|
Large Square |
$198.00 |
$140.00 |
$300.00 |
|
Large Round |
$185.00 |
$125.00 |
$230.00 |
Grade 2 (103 to 124 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
No Reported Sales |
||
|
Large Square |
$143.00 |
$100.00 |
$185.00 |
|
Large Round |
$154.00 |
$110.00 |
$210.00 |
Grade 3 (87 to 102 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
No Reported Sales |
||
|
Large Square |
$106.00 |
$80.00 |
$150.00 |
|
Large Round |
$138.00 |
$65.00 |
$215.00 |
Straw prices are for oat, barley, or wheat straw. Straw prices are steady. Small square bales averaged $4.15 a bale (range of $2.75 to $7.00). Large square bale straw averaged $55.00 per bale (a range of $35.00 to $85.00). Large round bale straw averaged $52.00 per bale (range of $35.00 – $68.00).
In Nebraska, prices remain steady. Demand for alfalfa backed off, as cattlemen are blending corn stalks and distillers instead of alfalfa hay,
In South Dakota, hay supply is tight. Prices remain steady to firm with very good demand for all classes of hay. High quality hay is tough to find.
In Missouri, a copy of the last report, supply is light to moderate, demand is moderate, and prices are steady to firm.
In Kansas, demand is strong. Prices are steady with undertones of strength. A lot of corn stalks being baled to stretch hay supplies on the farm.
In Wisconsin, prices for dairy quality hay are steady. Overall Wisconsin has a good supply of forage. Dairy hay prices are good, but lower quality may be discounted.
The next Hay Market Demand and Price Report for the Upper Midwest will be posted by Tuesday, December 27, 2022.
The following links are included in this report allowing producers to obtain some state and nearby state prices, (these may not be quality-tested auctions, if quality, they are included in this report). The Equity Cooperative market report is at http://livestock.equitycoop.com/market_reports/. Go to the Lomira, Reedsville, and Stratford locations for their reports on untested hay and straw prices.
The Reynolds Feed & Supply, LLC of Dodgeville is at http://www.reynoldslivestock.com/what1snew/.
The Tim Slack Auction and Realty, LLC of Fennimore is at http://www.timslackauctionrealty.com/market%20report.html.
The Dyersville Sales Company of Dyersville, Iowa is at http://dyersvillesales.com/hay-auction/hay-auction-results/. Fort Atkinson auction is at http://www.fortatkinsonhay.com/
The Farmer-to-Farmer website is an electronic neighborhood bulletin board that allows local farmers to get in touch with one another to facilitate the marketing of feed commodities. It also connects those with productive pastures to those producers who are in need of pastures. If you would like assistance posting to this web site, contact your county’s University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension agriculture agent.