U.S. hay prices fluctuated only slightly in December compared to November prices, according to USDA’s monthly Agricultural Prices report issued at the end of last month.
The December $192/ton average all-hay price received by farmers was down $1 from the previous month’s price, but $18 higher than the December 2011 price. The preliminary average alfalfa price in December, at $217/ton, was up $2/ton from November’s average price and $22/ton higher than in December 2011.
Michigan saw the largest month-to-month alfalfa price drop – $20/ton. In Wisconsin, the alfalfa price rose by $45/ton in December, to $235/ton.
Among the 27 reporting states, Ohio registered the highest alfalfa price in December, at $262/ton, down $17/ton from the previous month’s price. North Dakota had the lowest average price – $134/ton – down $6 from November’s.