Dairy producers looking to buy high-quality but reasonably priced hay may not find it this year. Prices are running above year-ago levels throughout most of the U.S.
Prices are especially high in the West, where production has been hurt by drought and other factors. They're running up to 40% above year-ago levels in that heavy hay-growing region, and with the winter feeding period still ahead, further price increases can be expected.
These prices were gathered from USDA in early September. Figures followed by (D) represent delivered prices. All others are at the farm. Cube and pellet prices are bulk unless otherwise indicated.
| Horse-quality alfalfa hay: | Price/ton | |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska (western) | $100 | |
| Utah | 90-130 | |
| Wyoming | 90-120 | |
| Premium-quality alfalfa hay: | Price/ton | |
| California (northern) | $140-170 | (D) |
| California (central) | 147-170 | (D) |
| Colorado (northeastern) | 90-100 | |
| Colorado (southwestern) | 100-105 | |
| Idaho | 120-135 | |
| Illinois | 110-130 | |
| Iowa | 80-115 | |
| Oklahoma | 100-120 | |
| Kansas (southwestern) | 110-125 | |
| Kansas (north central) | 90-105 | |
| Missouri | 100-130 | |
| Montana | 85-90 | |
| Nebraska | 90-115 | |
| Nevada | 125-130 | |
| New Mexico | 120-145 | |
| Oregon (central) | 125 | |
| Oregon (eastern) | 110-120 | |
| South Dakota (east river) | 75-80 | |
| South Dakota (western) | 100 | |
| Texas (panhandle) | 120-150 | (D) |
| Texas (eastern) | 120-140 | (D) |
| Utah | 95-105 | |
| Washington (Columbia Basin) | 125-130 | |
| Wisconsin | 105 | |
| Wyoming | 90-100 | |
| Good-quality alfalfa hay: | Price/ton | |
| California (northern) | $130-140 | (D) |
| California (central) | 135-141 | (D) |
| Colorado (northeastern) | 80-85 | |
| Colorado (southwestern) | 90 | |
| Idaho | 100-120 | |
| Illinois | 110-120 | |
| Iowa | 70-100 | |
| Kansas (southwestern) | 90-100 | |
| Kansas (north central) | 80-85 | |
| Minnesota (southwestern) | 73-85 | |
| Montana | 80-125 | |
| Nebraska | 80-110 | |
| Nevada | 110-120 | |
| New Mexico | 110-130 | |
| Oklahoma | 95-110 | |
| Oregon (eastern) | 100-105 | |
| South Dakota (east river) | 55-65 | |
| South Dakota (western) | 70-90 | |
| Texas (panhandle) | 100-125 | (D) |
| Texas (eastern) | 100-120 | |
| Utah | 70-90 | |
| Virginia | 68 | |
| Washington (Columbia Basin) | 110-115 | |
| Wisconsin | 75-90 | |
| Wyoming | 75-100 | |
| Fair-quality alfalfa hay: | Price/ton | |
| California (northern) | $120-133 | (D) |
| California (central) | 125-135 | (D) |
| California (southern) | 80-105 | |
| Colorado (northeastern) | 65-70 | |
| Idaho | 90-95 | |
| Iowa | 50-75 | |
| Nebraska | 60-80 | |
| Nevada | 90-100 | |
| New Mexico | 90-110 | |
| Oklahoma | 40-60 | |
| Oregon (eastern) | 90-100 | |
| Utah | 50-65 | |
| Virginia | 50 | |
| Washington (Columbia Basin) | 90-100 | |
| Wisconsin | 40-53 | |
| Timothy hay: | Price/ton | |
| California | $150 | |
| Montana | 125-135 | |
| Sudangrass hay | Price/ton | |
| California | $90-130 | |
| Kansas | 45-60 | |
| Straw: | Price/ton | |
| Idaho | $35-50 | |
| Illinois | 65-85 | |
| Iowa | 75-90 | |
| Kansas | 60 | |
| Montana | 40 | |
| Nebraska | 45-50 | (D) |
| Washington | 45-50 | |
| Wisconsin | 30-50 | |
| 17% Dehy alfalfa pellets: | Price/ton | |
| Kansas | $135-142 | |
| Nebraska | 130-137 | |
| Wyoming | 132 | |
| 15% Suncured alfalfa pellets: | Price/ton | |
| Kansas | $130 | |
| Texas | 145 | |
| Alfalfa cubes: | Price/ton | |
| Utah (50-lb bags) | $120-140 | |
| Wyoming | 100-110 |