Iowa Hay Summary

Week Ending  August 3, 2018

Buyers were aggressively looking for good quality bedding and high quality dairy hay.
Buyers would settle for lower quality product but for much lower money. Most of Iowa had
baled 2nd cutting with most sellers offering both 1st and 2nd cutting. Aggressive
buyers allowed the top side of hay to stand while the lower quality prices drifted lower.  

Alfalfa   Premium  Large Squares  $300.00 - $350.00
                                 Small Squares          $350.00 - $375.00 

Alfalfa/Grass  Premium  Large Squares  $205.00 - $285.00
                                 Small Squares          $200.00 - $230.00 
    Good  Large Squares  $155.00 - $175.00
            Small Squares          $125.00 - $175.00
                        
Grass   Good  Large Squares          $100.00 - $145.00
                                 Large Rounds           $125.00 - $140.00
                        Fair     Large  Rounds  $ 90.00 - $120.00
   Utility  Large Rounds  $ 55.00 - $ 85.00

Oat Hay                 Good     Large Square  $110.00 - $145.00
                                 Large Rounds           $100.00 - $155.00
                                 Small Squares          $133.00 - $178.00

Straw   Oat  Large Square  $ 62.00 - $ 90.00
                          Large Rounds           $ 65.00 - $ 80.00
                                 Small Squares          $165.00 - $220.00 
                        Rye      Small Squares          $100.00 - $220.00
                        Wheat  Large Squares          $100.00 - $120.00
                                 Small Squares          $150.00 - $165.00
                                 Large Rounds           $ 80.00 - $100.00

Cornstalks    Large Rounds  $ 30.00 - $ 30.50 
       
   
 
Certified Organic Hay:  Nothing to report this week.           

This Week's Drought Summary
Drought Report
The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 93 percent complete, 11 days ahead of average. The third 
cutting of alfalfa hay was 13 percent complete, 1 day ahead of the average. Hay condition rated 68
percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions declined to 54 percent rated good to excellent. Cooler
temperatures improved livestock conditions; however, drought conditions in the southern one-third of 
the State caused some cattle producers to rotate pasture and haul water. Iowa farmers had 6.3 days 
suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 29, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural
Statistics Service. Activities for the week included harvesting hay and oats for grain, applying chemicals
and moving grain. Topsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 71 percent adequate
and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 6 percent very short, 17 percent short, 72 percent
adequate and 5 percent surplus. Floodwaters continued to recede in northwest and north central Iowa while 
subsoil moisture levels rated short to very short remain above 70 percent in south central and southeastern Iowa.