The April year-to-year price received for all hay types declined by $15 per ton across the 27 reporting states in USDA's Agricultural Prices report released May 28. This was not surprising given the build-up in hay stocks from 2014 to 2015.

What was curious is that the April 2015 U.S. price of $173 per ton was $13 higher than March, given that the all-hay price actually went down in 12 states, stayed the same in two states, and went up by $5 or less in nine states.

So, how does the month-to-month U.S. average hay price jump by $13 when a large majority of the states declined in price or had much smaller increases? The answer: California.

According to a USDA official contacted by Hay & Forage Grower, the U.S. average hay price is calculated on a weighted average and the large volume of hay sold in California severely skewed the U.S. average price to the $13 increase. The month-to-month price rise in California was $23, a significantly different picture than was seen in virtually all the other reporting states.

The lowest all-hay prices were reported in Missouri ($91), Nebraska ($94), North Dakota ($86), and Texas ($94). The highest average price received for all hay types belonged to Pennsylvania ($246).

Alfalfa hay prices followed a trend similar to all-hay, and once again California had a major impact. The U.S. average price for alfalfa hay in April was $184 per ton. This was $12 more than the March price, but $23 less than one year ago. The prices encompass all levels of forage quality.

California saw a month-to-month alfalfa price increase of $25 per ton, while the next highest price rise was Michigan at $5. Eighteen of the reporting states either had reductions in alfalfa prices from March or stayed the same.

Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington had higher average alfalfa prices in April 2015 compared to 2014. The highest per ton alfalfa hay prices were reported from Pennsylvania ($245) and Texas ($230).

Prices Received for Hay by Type - States and United States: April 2015 with Comparisons (USDA)

All Hay
Alfalfa Hay
April 2014
March 2015
April 2015
Mar to April Change 2015

April 2014
March 2015
April 2015
Mar to April Change 2015
Arizona
225
200
200
0
225
200
200
0
California
239
186
209
23
250
190
215
25
Colorado
214
194
196
2
215
195
195
0
Idaho
199
169
160
-9
200
170
160
-10
Illinois
176
158
140
-18
190
170
165
-5
Iowa
155
129
123
-6
175
140
135
-5
Kansas
131
118
125
7
163
134
132
-2
Kentucky
119
139
142
3
190
210
210
0
Michigan
134
163
164
1
150
170
175
5
Minnesota
160
111
110
-1
181
120
123
3
Missouri
101
95
91
-4
190
165
165
0

Montana
136
124
124
0
140
125
125
0
Nebraska
116
91
94
3
127
94
96
2
Nevada
227
215
214
-1
229
215
215
0
New Mexico
229
193
194
1
240
200
200
0
New York
185
166
161
-5
205
225
220
-5
North Dakota
98
80
86
6
102
84
87
3
Ohio
136
140
146
6
165
180
175
-5
Oklahoma
116
137
141
4
202
207
187
-20
Oregon
220
203
194
-9
220
210
200
-10
Pennsylvania
206
241
246
5
233
244
245
1
South Dakota
127
109
113
4
133
113
118
5
Texas
106
98
94
-4
245
228
230
2
Utah
170
170
175
5
170
170
175
5
Washington
195
197
195
-2
185
200
195
-5
Wisconsin
155
116
113
-3
170
125
124
-1
Wyoming
168
127
118
-9
170
130
120
-10
United States
188
160
173
13
207
172
184
12