California Hay Report

  Compared to last week: All classes traded steady with moderate demand.  
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, through September 19, year-to-date U.S. 
wildfires had consumed 8.53 million acres of vegetation. In recent years, only 
2015 (8.85 million acres) and 2012 (8.61 million acres) had a higher burned 
acreage on that date.  According to the NASS crop progress report September 17, 
2017, a changing pattern marked the week's weather across the State as a trough 
over the western United States brought cooler temperatures and a taste of fall 
to most areas. The week started off with temperatures similar to what we have 
seen the last several weeks, but by mid-week through the weekend temperatures 
decreased.  Scattered showers were seen throughout most of the State on Monday. 
Brief heavy downpours resulted in precipitation spikes exceeding one inch in 
isolated areas, particularly around Tahoe. Most areas in the Sierras received up 
to half an inch of rain for the week, with most other areas receiving up to a 
quarter inch last week. A few sprinkles lingered on Thursday before the weekend 
brought dry weather to the State. A few light showers fell on the northwestern 
parts of the State on Sunday, dropping up to a quarter inch there. Additional 
light sprinkles were seen just south of the San Francisco area on Sunday. 
Despite frost in parts of the mountains, no measurable snow has fallen in the 
mountains. Patchy snow fields were still coating the peak of Shasta as well as 
sheltered, high-elevation areas in the Lassen Volcanoes area, with maximum depth 
around one foot. Temperature highs were in the 50s to 70s in the mountains, 60s 
to 70s along the coast, 70s to 80s in the valley, and 80s to 90s in the desert. 
Temperature lows were in the 30s to 40s in the mountains, 50s to 60s along the 
coast and the valley, and 50s to 70s the desert.  According to report contact, 
Army Worms are an issue with Orchard and Timothy grass in the Inter-Mountain 
region.  All hay is reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.  
Regions are defined at bottom of report. 

Tons:  8615    Last Week:  9645    Last Year:  12,461                          

Region 1: North Inter-Mountain:                                                
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                 150  200.00-200.00  200.00                       
                              250  205.00-205.00  205.00     Very High Testing 
      Premium                 250  180.00-180.00  180.00                       
                             1300  180.00-180.00  180.00     Contracted        
                               50  260.00-260.00  260.00     Organic           
                              175  140.00-140.00  140.00     Retail/Stable     
                              150  160.00-160.00  160.00     Retail Contracted         
      Good                    250  160.00-160.00  160.00                       
  Orchard Grass                                                                
      Premium                  50  290.00-300.00  295.00     Retail/Stable     

Region 2: Sacramento Valley:                                                   
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                  25  250.00-250.00  250.00                       
      Premium                 500  220.00-240.00  234.00                       

  Alfalfa/Orchard Mix                                                          
      Premium                  25  240.00-240.00  240.00     Retail/Stable     

Region 3: Northern San Joaquin Valley:                                         
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                 400  260.00-260.00  260.00 Del                   
      Premium                  50  220.00-220.00  220.00                       
                               75  180.00-180.00  180.00     Grassy            
                             1550  245.00-245.00  245.00 Del                   
      Good                    275  190.00-190.00  190.00                       
      Fair                    425  160.00-250.00  192.35                       
                               25  188.00-188.00  188.00 Del                   
  Oat                                                                          
      Good                     25  110.00-110.00  110.00                       

Region 4: Central San Joaquin Valley: No New Sales Confirmed
                            
Region 5: Southern California:                                                 
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Good/Premium             25  190.00-190.00  190.00     Retail/Stable     

Region 6: Southeast California:                                                
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Premium                1120  170.00-180.00  175.09     Retail/Stable     
      Good                    400  160.00-160.00  160.00     Export            
                               45  160.00-160.00  160.00     Retail/Stable     
      Fair                    400  120.00-125.00  121.25                       
                              200  110.00-110.00  110.00     Grassy            
      Utility                 175   60.00-60.00    60.00     Rain Damage       
  Bermuda Grass                                                                
      Premium                 250  170.00-170.00  170.00     Retail/Stable  

The following are the counties included in each region:                        
Region 1: Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas.                         
Region 2: Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer,  
          Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento, Amador, and Alpine.             
Region 3: San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mono, Merced, Mariposa.
Region 4: Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo.                             
Region 5: Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and Western San Bernardino.             
Region 6: Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial.