Colorado Hay Report

   Compared to last week, prices were mostly steady with activity light and demand high in all classes.  Many producers are sold out of last year’s crop lending to the light demand seen.  Producers feel optimistic about the outlook on new crop prices because of the dwindling supplies of old crop.  Many producers are shipping any spare hay stocks down to the areas most affected by the recent wildfires.  The USDA NRCS National Water and Climate Center’s Colorado SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report for Thursday, March 23, 2017 has the Gunnison River Basin Snow Water Equivalent at 123%, the Upper Colorado River basin at 112%, the South Platte River Basin at 103%, the Laramie and North Platte River Basins at 108%, the Yampa and White River Basins at 98%, the Arkansas River Basin at 95%, the Upper Rio Grande Basin at 113% and the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan River Basins at 125% as a percent of the median of all SNOTEL sites in each basin compared to previous years.  According to the United States Drought Monitor, in Colorado, unseasonable warmth (7-day 
average temperatures up to 18°F above normal) and protracted dryness (6-month precipitation averaging 30 to 50 percent of normal) led to the expansion of Severe Drought (D2) in north-central portions of the state; rain will be needed soon everywhere east of the Rockies to prevent a rapid intensification of drought as winter wheat continues to break dormancy and soil moisture requirements increase.  All prices reported are FOB at the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.  Prices reflect load lots of hay.  If you have hay for sale or need hay, use the services of the Colorado Department of Agriculture website: www.coloradoagriculture.com.  

Northeast Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa
   Small Squares: Supreme 300.00 (10.00 per bale), small lot.
   Round Bales: Good 100.00.
  Alfalfa/Grass Mix
   Large Squares: Good 125.00.
  Grass
   Large Squares: Premium 185.00.
   Small Squares: Premium 245.00-250.00 (7.00-8.00 per bale), small lot.
  Oat
   Large Squares: Good 75.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southeast Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa
   Large Squares: Good 130.00 DEL.
   Small Squares: Supreme 200.00 (6.50-7.00 per bale).
  Triticale
   Large Squares: Good 100.00.
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 245.00, retail.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

San Luis Valley Area
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southwest Colorado Areas
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 200.00 (7.00 per bale), small lot.
  Orchard Grass
   Small Squares: Good 220.00 (10.00 per bale), small lot.
   No reported quotes from all other classes of hay.

Mountains and Northwest Colorado Areas
  Grass
   Large Squares: Premium 140.00; Good 105.00; Fair 75.00.
   Small Squares: Premium 190.00 (5.50 per bale).
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Northeast: Weld, Washington, Morgan, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lincoln, Elbert, 
Adams, Sedgwick, Yuma, Larimer, Jefferson, Douglas, Kit Carson, Phillips, 
Logan, Boulder, Arapahoe, and El Paso.
Southeast: Fremont, Custer, Huerfano, Las Animas, Bent, Otero, Prowers, 
Crowley, and Pueblo.
San Luis Valley: Saguache, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande, and 
Mineral.
Southwest: Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Montezuma, Dolores, 
San Juan, Hinsdale, Archuleta, and La Plata.
Mountains and Northwest: Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Rio Blanco, Garfield, 
Gunnison, Teller, Grand, Chaffee, Park, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Summit, 
Lake, and Eagle.