Late Frost Freezes Hay Prices

May 1, 2007 12:00 PM

Hay prices usually have softened by late April as the new harvest picks up steam. But this year they're holding mostly steady compared with month-earlier levels. The Easter weekend frost that damaged alfalfa over a wide area and delayed the first cutting may be to blame. Prices were gathered by USDA. Figures followed by (D) are delivered prices. All others are at the farm. Cube and pellet prices are bulk unless otherwise indicated.

For weekly updated hay prices, go to the “Hay Price Link” section of HayandForage.com

Horse-quality alfalfa hay:	Price/ton
California (northern)	$165-175	(D)
California (southern)	185-210	(D)
Idaho	140
Kansas	160-200
Nevada	140-145
Oregon (Lake County)	130
Utah	100-140
Washington (Columbia Basin)	140-160
Wyoming	155
Premium-quality alfalfa hay:	Price/ton
California (northern)	$170-190	(D)
California (central)	175-200	(D)
California (southern)	185-195	(D)
Colorado (northeastern)	130-220
Colorado (southeastern)	150-160
Iowa (Maurice)	115-150
Iowa (Rock Valley)	110-155
Kansas (southeastern)	110-120
Kansas (northeastern)	110-140
Minnesota (southwestern)	103-128
Missouri	140-175
Montana	95-125
Nebraska (northeastern)	130-140
Nebraska (Platte Valley)	125-135
Nebraska (western)	100-110
Oklahoma	150-180
Oregon	140-150
South Dakota (Alcester)	115-145
South Dakota (east river)	125-170
South Dakota (western)	130-133	(D)
Texas (panhandle)	180-285	(D)
Texas (eastern)	190-250	(D)
Washington (Columbia Basin)	130
Wyoming	100-130
Good-quality alfalfa hay:	Price/ton
California (northern)	$155-180	(D)
California (central)	170-192	(D)
California (southern)	150-155
Colorado (southeastern)	130-175
Idaho	95-103
Iowa (Maurice)	108-120
Iowa (Rock Valley)	105-108
Kansas (northwestern)	110-120
Minnesota (southwestern)	78-95
Missouri	100-180
Montana	80-90
Nebraska (northeastern)	115-120
Nebraska (Platte Valley)	90-110
Nebraska (western)	100
Nevada	130-135
Oklahoma	140-160
Oregon	120
South Dakota (east river)	85-100
South Dakota (western)	95-120	(D)
Texas	160-250	(D)
Utah	75-95
Fair-quality alfalfa hay:	Price/ton
California (northern)	$150-155	(D)
California (central)	155	(D)
Colorado (northeastern)	115-120
Idaho	85
Iowa (central)	40-60
Iowa (Rock Valley)	78
Kansas (northeastern)	100-110
Nebraska (northeastern)	900-100
Nevada	100
Oklahoma	80-100
Texas (panhandle)	130-160
Washington (Columbia Basin)	90-110
Bromegrass hay	Price/ton
Kansas (southeastern)	$90-135
Missouri	60-140
Oat hay	Price/ton
California (northern)	$121-140	(D)
California (central)	155
Kansas (new crop)	120
Nebraska	80
Utah	80
Wyoming	100
Timothy hay:	Price/ton
Montana	$140-150
Nevada	200-225
Virginia	143
Washington (Columbia Basin)	160-180
Wyoming	175
Straw:	Price/ton
California (southern)	$40
Iowa (Maurice)	80
Kansas	50-65
Montana	35-40
Nebraska (northeastern)	50-55
Nebraska (western)	25-60
South Dakota (western)	80-85
Washington (Columbia Basin)	80
17% Dehy alfalfa pellets:	Price/ton
Kansas	$195
Nebraska	180-190
Wyoming	174	(D)
15% Suncured alfalfa pellets:	Price/ton
Kansas	$155-165
South Dakota	155
Alfalfa cubes:	Price/ton
Utah (50-lb bags)	$120-150