Iowa Hay Summary

Week Ending  July 13th, 2018
For this week: Both first and second cuttings of hay were available across Iowa.
Most of the time, the quality of second cutting hay exceeded that of first cutting.
While second hay has tended to be weed free in the past, the recent hay cutting was
not as clean as hot, rainy weather encouraged the growth of grasses and weeds while
limiting alfalfa growth.  Overall hay prices were lower compared to last years' hay 
prices with the prices being reflective of the quality, or lack there of, for hay.


Alfalfa/Grass  Premium  Large Squares  $300.00 - $350.00
                                 Small Squares          $220.00 - $375.00 
    Good  Large Squares  $150.00 - $185.00
            Small Squares          $185.00 - $225.00

Grass   Good  Large Squares          $120.00 - $170.00
                                 Large Rounds           $ 90.00 - $150.00
                                 Small Squares          $150.00 - $175.00
                        Fair     Large  Rounds  $ 90.00 - $120.00
   Utility  Large Rounds  $ 55.00 - $ 85.00

Oat Hay                 Good     Large Rounds           $ 75.00 - $100.00
                                 Small Squares          $133.00 - $178.00

Straw   Oat  Large Square  $ 62.00 - $ 90.00
                          Large Rounds           $ 65.00 - $ 80.00
                                 Small Squares          $150.00 - $175.00 
                        Rye      Large Rounds           $ 30.00 - $ 50.00
                                 Small Squares          $100.00 - $200.00
                        Wheat  Large Squares          $100.00 - $120.00
                                 Small Squares          $150.00 - $165.00
                                 Large Rounds           $ 80.00 - $100.00

Cornstalks    Large Rounds  $ 45.00 - $ 57.50 
       
   
 
Certified Organic Hay:  Alfalfa/grass   Premium Small Squares $200.00 - $280.00           

This Week's Drought Summary
Warmer than normal temperatures dominated the region, with the Upper Midwest having the
greatest departures with temperatures 4-6 degrees above normal. It was also a fairly dry 
week over the region with only spotty precipitation over portions of central Illinois 
into Indiana. Minnesota into northwest Iowa recorded the most precipitation during the
week as the active weather that impacted the northern Plains drifted east. Rapidly 
changing conditions in Michigan allowed for a widespread expansion of abnormally dry 
conditions in Lower Michigan as well as the eastern edge of the Upper Peninsula. Moderate
drought was introduced this week into eastern Michigan as flash drought conditions are 
developing rapidly. Abnormally dry conditions were eliminated over most of northern 
Minnesota while they expanded in southeast Iowa, with a slight expansion of moderate drought
there as well. Abnormally dry conditions were introduced into portions of western Kentucky
where conditions have been dry over the short term. In Missouri, extreme drought was introduced
this week into the northern portions of the state. Dryness on multiple timescales as well as 
local impacts being reported help guide this introduction. Severe drought was also introduced in
southwest Missouri and expanded in northwest Missouri while moderate drought was expanded over 
northeast Missouri.
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/