Iowa Hay Summary

Week Ending  August 10, 2018
This weeks prices were mostly steady with last weeks. Very little top quality hay was
available across the state.  No straight alfalfa hay was reported this week.While buyers
were aggressively looking for good quality bedding and high quality hay, buyers would
settle for lower quality product but for much lower money. Both lower highs and higher
lows were reported across the state.  Overall, trading on hay and straw was light this week.

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
                        Utility  Small squares  $ 85.00 - $110.00
                        
Grass   Good  Large Squares          $100.00 - $145.00
                                 Large Rounds           $125.00 - $140.00
                        Fair     Large  Rounds  $ 90.00 - $120.00
   Utility  Largge Squares  $ 45.00 - $110.00   
                                 Large Rounds  $ 55.00 - $ 85.00

Oat Hay                 Good     Large Rounds           $ 85.00 - $ 95.00
                                 
Straw   Oat  Large Rounds           $ 95.00 - $ 95.00
  
 
Certified Organic Hay:  Nothing to report this week.           

This Week's Drought Summary
The second cutting of alfalfa hay has neared completion. The third cutting of 
alfalfa hay was 30 percent complete, 3 days behind the previous year but 4 days 
ahead of the average. Hay condition fell to 61 percent good to excellent. Pasture 
conditions declined to 46 percent rated good to excellent. Regrowth of pastures and
hay has been a concern, especially in the southern two-thirds of the State.
Much of Iowa had below average temperatures and precipitation for the beginning of the
reporting period.  However by the end, Friday through Sunday, temperatures were near 
normal in the north and above average, by around three degrees, in the south. Lamoni 
(Decatur County) observed the week’s high temperature of 98 degrees, 13 degrees above normal.