Colorado Hay Report

   Compared to last week, prices remain steady.  Activity light and demand 
moderate in all classes.  Tuesday, February 6, High Plains Journal will be 
hosting “Alfalfa U” at The Ranch-Larimer County Events Complex in Loveland CO 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  According to NOAA’s National Weather Service for 
February 1, 2018, light snow will continue falling over northeastern Colorado, 
mainly north of Denver.  2-4 inches fell overnight, and another 1-2 inches will 
be possible by midday.  Areas from Fort Collins out to Greeley and Fort Morgan 
will receive the most snow.  The NASS Crop Progress and Condition report for the 
month of January shows topsoil moisture conditions 21 percent very short, 38 
percent short, and 41 percent adequate.  Drought conditions continue to be a 
major concern for livestock producers, pushing them to buy more hay due to the 
decline in range conditions.  The USDA NRCS National Water and Climate Center’s 
Colorado SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report for Thursday, February 1, 2018 
has the Gunnison River Basin Snow Water Equivalent at 51 percent, the Upper 
Colorado River basin at 77 percent, the South Platte River Basin at 84 percent, 
the Laramie and North Platte River Basins at 80 percent, the Yampa and White 
River Basins at 72 percent, the Arkansas River Basin at 56 percent, the Upper 
Rio Grande Basin at 35 percent and the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan 
River Basins at 36 percent as a percent of the median of all SNOTEL sites in 
each basin compared to previous years.  The next available report will be 
Thursday, February 8, 2018.  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 245.00-255.00 (8.50 per bale), Retail/Stable.
   Rounds: Good 165.00; Fair 155.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southeast Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa
   Small Squares: Premium 230.00 (8.00 per bale).
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 263.50 (7.25 per bale).
  Haygrazer
   Mid Squares: Good 120.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

San Luis Valley Area
  Alfalfa
   Large Squares: Fair 125.00, Rain Damaged.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southwest Colorado Areas
   No reported quotes from all other classes of hay.

Mountains and Northwest Colorado Areas
  Grass
   Mid Squares: Good 150.00.
   Small Squares: Premium 255.00 (7.00 per bale); Good 180.00 (5.00 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.