Colorado Hay Report

   Compared to last week, trade activity light on good demand.  Growers in the 
San Luis Valley are reporting several cases of winterkill on new alfalfa stands, 
with a mix of farmers planting oats to be followed with alfalfa, and some 
replanting back to alfalfa.  Under current drought conditions, this will lead to 
less acres of alfalfa available in that region.  According to the U.S Drought 
Monitor Summary for April 17, 2018, in Colorado, there was a significant 
introduction of exceptional drought (D4) into the southwestern corner of the 
state, where winter snowfall was abysmal and spring and summer runoff prospects 
are poor.  Also noted was topsoil moisture in Colorado was rated 61 percent very 
short.  The USDA NRCS National Water and Climate Center’s Colorado SNOTEL 
Snow/Precipitation Update Report for Thursday, April 19, 2018 has the Gunnison 
River Basin Snow Water Equivalent at 54 percent, the Upper Colorado River basin 
at 88 percent, the South Platte River Basin at 93 percent, the Laramie and North 
Platte River Basins at 106 percent, the Yampa and White River Basins at 93 
percent, the Arkansas River Basin at 59 percent, the Upper Rio Grande Basin at 
30 percent and the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan River Basins at 33 
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 
15, 2018, Pasture and range percentages are 21 percent Very Poor, 24 percent 
Poor, 29 percent Fair, 25 percent Good, and 1 percent Excellent.  The next 
available report will be Thursday, April 26, 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
  Corn Stalks
   Large Squares: Good 60.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southeast Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa
   Small Squares: Premium/Supreme 240.00 (8.00 per bale); Good/Premium 220.00 
(7.50 per bale).
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 280.00 (7.75 per bale).
  Haygrazer
   Rounds: Good 120.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

San Luis Valley Area
  Alfalfa
   Large Squares: Supreme 200.00.
  Grass
   Mid Squares: Premium 250.00, Old Crop Retail/Stable.
   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
   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.