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
A strong market as April begins with some desperation buying, as cattlemen are stretching hay supply, while looking for blades of green grass. Wisconsin hay market is depressed compared to markets to the west. The >150 RFV hay is supporting a strong market. 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 |
$346.00 |
$300.00 |
$400.00 |
|
|
Large Square |
$274.00 |
$205.00 |
$375.00 |
|
|
Large Round |
$256.00 |
$195.00 |
$340.00 |
|
Grade 1 (125 to 150 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
$225.00 |
$170.00 |
$288.00 |
|
|
Large Square |
$205.00 |
$130.00 |
$335.00 |
|
|
Large Round |
$187.00 |
$60.00 |
$285.00 |
|
Grade 2 (103 to 124 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
No Reported Sales |
||
|
|
Large Square |
$185.00 |
$185.00 |
$300.00 |
|
|
Large Round |
$156.00 |
$95.00 |
$205.00 |
|
Grade 3 (87 to 102 RFV/RFQ) |
Small Square |
No Reported Sales |
||
|
|
Large Square |
$140.00 $65.00 $200.00 |
||
|
|
Large Round |
$100.00 |
$40.00 |
$200.00 |
Straw prices are for oat, barley, or wheat straw. Straw prices are steady. Small square bales averaged $5.50 a bale (range of $3.00 to $7.00). Large square bale straw averaged $51.00 per bale (a range of $30.00 to $78.00). Large round bale straw averaged $61.00 per bale (range of $30.00 – $75.00). There is a limited supply at auctions.
In Nebraska, Alfalfa sold steady. Demand was good; supply is tight. Farmers are baling corn stalks to stretch feed supply.
In South Dakota, all classes of hay prices remain steady. Good demand as snow continues and farmers need to feed cattle.
In Missouri, supply is short, demand is moderate, and prices are steady. Finally seeing some green grass as farmers may move cattle to pasture soon.
In Kansas, prices are steady with good demand. Trade activity is slow. Concerns for the 2023 hay crop across the state.
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, April 25, 2023.
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.
