Demand and Sale s Activity
Hay prices w e re slightly weaker compared to the previous report .The a ll grade hay price average d $ 4. 8 0 per ton lower at auction this week. Hay harvest has begun and there are a reduced number of weekly auctions . Prime and grade 1 quality hay i s in demand along with straw
For Nebraska , alfalfa hay sold steady. The back grounding feedlots are demanding hay in the central area of the state . Weather is delaying hay harvest in many areas of the state.
For Iowa , trading w as inactive, farmers hope Mother Nature provides warmer drier weather to harvest first cutting of hay .
In South Dakota , prime and g ra d e 1 quality hay increased $5.00 a ton with limited auctions reporting. Farmers are looking for a break in the weather to make first cut hay . New crop hay will be reaching auctions in the near future.
For Missouri, demand for hay is light with a moderate supply and a steady price. Hay making has been slow as farmers wait for a dr y stretch of weather to harvest first cut hay . Currently wet fields will not carry harvesting equipment.
In Southw est Minnesota, overall hay price was lower as a result of no pr i m e quality hay being available. H ay volume sold was greater than the past week.
For Illinois, there was no market activity this past week .
In Wisconsin , the market was lower with a reduced number of auctions. First cutting hay has begun. On farm h ay inventory is low, but above the past couple of years when literally no hay inventory was available on m ost farms.
Overall the Midwest straw price i s weaker with continued strong demand for small bales of straw. Small square bale straw was slightly higher in price; the average is $3. 4 0 a bale (range of $1.00 to $6.00) . Large square bale straw price had an average price of $ 25 . 0 0 per bale (range of $ 2 0 .00 to $ 4 5 .00) a decrease t he last report ; and large round bale straw averaged $29.00 per bale (range of $25.00 to $33.00 ) .
Source:uwex.edu
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