Colorado Hay Report

Compared to last week, trade activity and demand light.  Spot market 
activity on feedlot and dairy hay inactive as they receive previously 
contracted hay.  Northeast Colorado will begin harvesting alfalfa for 
haylage next week and baled hay will be shortly after.  Drought 
conditions continue in southwest Colorado with herd reductions over the 
winter and hay inventories negatively impacting current market prices.  
Southeast Colorado started harvesting 1st cutting alfalfa and triticale 
for hay.  Drought conditions in that region have ranchers beginning to 
reduce herd numbers due to pasture conditions.  Hay movement in the San 
Luis Valley continues to be on previously contracted hay.  Conditions 
very dry and windy with overnight temps getting as low as 26 degrees, 
causing light frost.  Producers in the Mountains and Northwest Colorado 
regions concerned how the recent lack of moisture will impact yields on 
meadow grass.  According to the U.S Drought Monitor’s High Plains Summary 
released May 19, 2020, Temperatures over the region were generally 6-8 
degrees below normal, with portions of Colorado and Wyoming the outliers 
with temperatures 2-4 degrees above normal. Most of the region was fairly 
dry for the week with many areas below normal for precipitation during 
one of the wettest months of the year.  Portions of western South Dakota, 
western Nebraska, northeast Colorado, and southeast Kansas did record 
precipitation that was well above normal with 150-400 percent of normal 
for the week.  Northeast Colorado did see some improvement due to recent 
heavy rains as the severe and moderate drought as well as the abnormally 
dry conditions shifted south slightly.  According to the NASS Colorado 
Crop Progress Report for week ending May 17, 2020, 1st cutting harvested 
alfalfa hay is at 2 percent with crop condition percentages for alfalfa 
hay rated 5 percent Very Poor, 10 percent Poor, 25 percent Fair, 51 
percent Good and 9 percent Excellent.  Stored feed supplies were rated 4 
percent very short, 15 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 2 percent 
surplus.  The next available report will be Thursday, May 28, 2020.  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
   Large Squares: Supreme 220.00, DEL.
   Small Squares
    21-bale Bundle: Supreme 290.00-320.00 (8.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
  Alfalfa/Grass
          Rounds: Premium 220.00, Retail/Stable.
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 335.00 (10.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southeast Colorado Areas
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 315.00 (9.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

San Luis Valley Areas
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southwest Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa/Grass
   Small Squares: Good 200.00 (6.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
  Orchard Grass
   Small Squares
       3-tie 90#: Premium 345.00 (15.50 per bale), Retail/Stable.
   No reported quotes from all other classes of hay.

Mountains and Northwest Colorado Areas
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 270.00 (7.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
   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.

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