Wyoming, Western Nebraska, and Western South Dakota Hay Report

   Compared to last week, prices were mostly steady with activity very light and 
demand good in all classes.  While some producers are starting to cut their 2017 
Alfalfa, most producers are looking to a mid-June first cutting with some areas 
looking to a July 1st first cutting.  Moisture and cooler temperatures has made 
for a later harvest than usual in many areas.   The NASS Wyoming Crop Progress 
and Condition report for the week ending May 21, 2017 states that Wyoming 
experienced cooler than normal temperatures for the week, according to the 
Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 
USDA.  All 34 stations reported below average temperatures for the week with the 
high temperature of 79 degrees recorded at Torrington and a low of 20 degrees at 
Big Piney and Lake Yellowstone.  All 34 stations reported some precipitation 
with Old Fort Laramie having the most at 3.21 inches and Big Piney having the 
least with 0.15 inches.  Twenty-nine stations had more than average 
precipitation.  A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicted that they 
received some more rain last week and they are planting as the can.  They also 
indicated that the grass is green and they are almost through with calving.  A 
reporter from Northeastern Wyoming stated that they got rain last week but it 
was dispersed and varied a lot in amounts.  They also indicated that many areas 
need more moisture and recent cool weather has slowed plant growth.  A reporter 
from Western Wyoming indicated that last week’s weather was cool which slowed 
the runoff but the added moisture received has added to the flooding problem.  
They also indicated that farmers are doing some planting as conditions allow.  A 
reporter from Southwestern Wyoming stated that the excessive runoff and flooding 
has slowed due to cooler weather.  A reporter from South Central Wyoming 
commented that they are did get some moisture but grass is still short and slow 
to grow.  A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming stated that excess spring 
moisture is providing excellent spring grazing but the recent snow was a 
hardship.  They also reported that the precipitation varied from 2 inches to 4 
inches of moisture and included in that was up to 12 inches of snow.  Stock 
water supplies across Wyoming were rated 4 percent very short, 5 percent short, 
71 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus.  According to the United States 
Drought Monitor, soaking precipitation occurred from central portions of the 
Rockies and Plains into the upper Midwest, mainly from May 16-18.  Late-season 
snow (locally 1 to 3 feet) blanketed the northern and central Rockies.  A stripe 
of heavy precipitation from the central Rockies into the upper Midwest erased 
pockets of abnormal dryness (D0) in Nebraska and reduced coverage of dryness and 
moderate drought (D0 and D1) in Colorado.  Rain also trimmed D0 coverage in the 
eastern Dakotas.  However, precipitation mostly bypassed the remainder of the 
Dakotas, leading to further expansion of D0.  On May 21, South Dakota led the 
entire northern U.S. in topsoil moisture rated very short to short (29%), as 
well as rangeland and pastures rated very poor to poor (19%), according to the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture.  On May 18-19, Cheyenne, Wyoming, was blanketed 
with 14.3 inches of snow, while snowfall ranged from 1 to 3 feet at several 
locations in the central Rockies.  All prices dollars per ton FOB stack in large 
square bales and rounds, unless otherwise noted.  Most horse hay sold in small 
squares.  Prices are from the most recent reported sales. 

Eastern Wyoming 
  Alfalfa
   Large Squares: Good 130.00.
   No reported quotes for other classes of hay.

Central and Western Wyoming 
   No reported quotes for other classes of hay. 

Western Nebraska
  Alfalfa
   Ground and Delivered: 135.00.
   No reported quotes for other classes of hay.

Western South Dakota
   No reported quotes for other classes of hay.