Forage Fodder

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

What goes up must come down

After three consecutive months of upward price movement, the average alfalfa hay price retreated quickly during June. According to the USDA’s Agricultural Prices report, alfalfa fell to $177 per ton, down $14 from June and $19 below a year ago. Typically, the highest average price each year is posted in April or June.

The average price for grass hay in June dropped by $3 per ton to $141.

The price paid for Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay during June fell to $244 per ton, which was $33 below the previous month.

Seven states had a double-digit month-over-month alfalfa price gain during June. Montana was up $20 per ton while New York had a $15 bump. Wisconsin was up $11 per ton and was followed by New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, which were all up by $10.

Four states had a double-digit decline in average alfalfa price. Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, and Utah were all down by $10 per ton.

The highest average June alfalfa hay price was reported in Pennsylvania at $250 per ton. It was followed by New York and California, which were both at $245, while New Mexico followed at $240 per ton.

North Dakota had the lowest average alfalfa price at $91 per ton. It was followed by South Dakota at $94 and Minnesota at $100.

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 June, the average price of Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay dropped by $33 per ton to $244, which was $12 per ton below the average price of a year ago.

Other hay

The June average price of other hay declined by $3 per ton to $141. This was $8 per ton lower than the previous year.

The highest June price for hay other than alfalfa was reported in Washington at $215 per ton. Oregon followed at $200 per ton while Pennsylvania and New York posted a $195 per ton price.

North Dakota had the lowest reported other hay average price at $69 per ton. It was followed by Minnesota at $73 per ton.