Hay prices stuck in a rut

According to USDA data, alfalfa hay prices continue to creep lower, with average prices dipping to their lowest point since February 2018. Grass hay prices continue to inch upward, buttoning up the price gap between the two hay types.

Meanwhile, exporters anticipate smaller demand from major export markets as these countries seek other suppliers amidst the reshaping of U.S. trade policy.

The prices below are primarily from USDA hay market reports as of mid-April. Prices are FOB barn/stack unless otherwise noted.

This article appeared in the April/May 2025 issue of Hay & Forage Grower on page 30.

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