Colorado Hay Report

   Compared to last week, trade activity light to moderate on good demand.  Due 
to widespread drought conditions, cattleman in southeast Colorado are buying hay 
to supplement cattle coming off stalks.   Growers in the San Luis Valley are 
reporting instances of winterkill on newly planted alfalfa stands while waiting 
to assess potential damage to still dormant older stands.  In comparing U.S. 
Drought Monitor Drought Classifications statistics to a year ago, Colorado’s D0-
D4 drought classification increased from 48.11 percent to 87.62 percent.  This 
is especially concerning to growers in the southern 2/3’s of the state as they 
are immersed in mostly D2 and D3 categories.  The USDA NRCS National Water and 
Climate Center’s Colorado SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report for Thursday, 
April 12, 2018 has the Gunnison River Basin Snow Water Equivalent at 57 percent, 
the Upper Colorado River basin at 84 percent, the South Platte River Basin at 92 
percent, the Laramie and North Platte River Basins at 102 percent, the Yampa and 
White River Basins at 88 percent, the Arkansas River Basin at 63 percent, the 
Upper Rio Grande Basin at 38 percent and the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San 
Juan River Basins at 37 percent as a percent of the median of all SNOTEL sites 
in each basin compared to previous years.  The NASS Colorado Crop progress 
report for week ending April 8, 2018, Pasture and range percentages are 19 
percent Very Poor, 22 percent Poor, 32 percent Fair, 25 percent Good, and 2 
percent Excellent.  The next available report will be Thursday, April 19, 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: Premium 275.00-285.00 (8.50-9.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
  Orchard Grass
   Mid Squares: Premium 317.50, Retail/Stable.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southeast Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa
   Small Squares: Premium/Supreme 240.00 (8.00 per bale).
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 280.00 (7.75 per bale).
  Sorghum Sudan Grass
   Rounds: Good 75.00.
   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
   No reported quotes from all other classes of hay.

Mountains and Northwest Colorado Areas
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 270.00 (7.50 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.