Little change in October alfalfa price

The October average price of alfalfa rose $1 per ton from September to settle at $173, according to data from the USDA’s Agricultural Prices report. The average grass (other) hay price jumped $7 per ton to $147. Neither of these values holds great significance, but the difference between the two does. The $26 gap between the alfalfa and grass hay average prices was the smallest such difference since April 2017.

The price for Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay found some strength during October, averaging $236 per ton, which was $9 higher than the previous month.

Nine states had a double-digit month-over-month alfalfa price gain during October. Pennsylvania led that group by posting a $21 per ton improvement. New York closely followed by being up $20 per ton. Wisconsin and Wyoming were both $15 per ton higher while California, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Utah were each up by $10 per ton over the previous month.

Only Texas had a double-digit decline in month-over-month alfalfa price, being down by $22 per ton.

The highest average October alfalfa hay price was reported in New Mexico at $250 per ton, and it was closely followed by Texas at $248. Pennsylvania and California both averaged $240 per ton.

North Dakota posted the lowest average alfalfa price at $98 per ton. It was followed by Minnesota at $110 and South Dakota at $115.

Keep in mind that USDA average prices account for all qualities and bale types of hay sold. Also, the final U.S. estimate is a volume-weighted average rather than a simple average of state values. Those states with the most volume sales will impact the final U.S. dollar value more than those states with fewer sales.

Supreme and Premium

The USDA also tracks the prices of Supreme and Premium quality alfalfa in the major dairy states and determines an average price from the five top milk-producing states (California, Idaho, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin). This data is used to determine feed prices in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.

For October, the average price of Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay rose by $9 per ton to $236, which followed a $9 price decline the previous month. One year ago, the average price of Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay was $278 per ton.

Other hay

The October average price of other hay (mostly grass) jumped by $7 from September to $147 per ton, which was still $25 per ton lower than a year ago.

The highest October price for hay other than alfalfa was reported in Oregon at $215 per ton. Washington had the next highest price at $205. Pennsylvania and New York both reported grass hay prices that were $27 higher than the previous month.

North Dakota had the lowest reported other hay average price at $82 per ton. It was followed by Minnesota at $88 per ton.