Bi-Weekly Montana Hay Report

Compared to two weeks ago:  Hay prices sold steady trending higher with drought 
conditions worsening.  Sales are all new crop hay unless otherwise noted.  Demand for 
all hay is good to very good on light supplies.  Drought conditions have worsened in 
much of the Eastern portions of the state.  The Drought Monitor is released every 
Tuesday and gives drought conditions for the US.  This week’s report states that in 
the drought-stricken northern Plains and eastern Montana, rainfall accumulations were 
generally less than 1 inch providing little relief.  Early this week, temperatures in 
eastern Montana soared into the 90s exacerbating already dry conditions and further 
stressing crops, pastures, and rangelands.  On this week’s map, areas of Severe 
Drought (D2) and Extreme Drought (D3) expanded across eastern Montana, south-central 
North Dakota, and northwestern South Dakota where hot and dry conditions persisted.  
On July 1st, the National Weather Service Office in Glasgow, Montana reported several 
dry precipitation records were broken for Glasgow including: the driest May and June 
(0.72 inches) since 1918; the driest April, May, and June (1.24 inches) since 1918; 
and the driest January through June (2.75 inches) since 1983.  According to the USDA 
for the week ending June 25th, topsoil moisture (percent short to very short) is as 
follows: Montana - 69%, Nebraska – 56%, North Dakota – 53%, and South Dakota – 63%.  
Some lesser rainfall accumulation (less than 1 inch) were observed across northern 
New Mexico, northern Wyoming, and southwestern Montana.  The NASS Montana Crop 
Progress and Condition report for the week ending July 2, 2017 states that another 
week of hot dry weather with limited precipitation occurred for a majority of the 
state, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service, USDA.  High temperatures ranged from the lower 80s to upper 90 
degrees and low temperatures ranged from 28 degrees in West Yellowstone to the lower 
50s.  Crop conditions continue to deteriorate due to the hot dry weather.  Pasture 
and range conditions were down from the previous week with 51 percent rated fair to 
good compared with 72 percent last year rated fair to good.  While price spreads for 
hay are wide, delivered hay prices remain fairly tight as the majority of the hay 
sold is being sold into eastern Montana.  All prices are dollars per ton and FOB 
unless otherwise noted.


                                              
  Alfalfa:    Supreme:  Small squares, NA
              Premium:  Large squares, NA                
              Good:     Large squares, 130.00-150.00           
                        Large rounds,  155.00
                        Small squares, NA
              Fair:     Large squares, 125.00 old crop 120.00 rained on 100.00
                        Large rounds,  135.00-140.00 
                        Small Squares, NA
              Utility   Large rounds,  NA
                        Large squares, old crop 95.00
                
Grass/Alfalfa:Premium:  Small squares, NA
              Good:     Large rounds,  NA      
                        Small squares, NA
                        Large squares, 130.00
              Fair:     Large squares, NA
                        Large rounds,  NA

   Grass:     Premium   Large rounds,  NA
              Good:     Large squares, 130.00
                        Large rounds,  NA
              Fair:     Large squares, NA
                        Large rounds,  NA
              Utility:  Large rounds,  NA    
                          

Timothy 
Grass:        Premium:  Small squares, 240.00
              Premium:  Large rounds,  NA
              Good:     Large rounds,  NA
           

Barley                  Large squares, NA
straw:                  Large rounds,  135.00
                        Small squares, NA
                  

Wheat straw:

South central Montana   Large squares, NA
Northern Montana        Large squares, NA
                        Large rounds,  NA