Colorado Hay Report

Compared to last week, trade activity and demand light.  Spot market 
activity on feedlot and dairy hay inactive as they continue receiving 
previously contracted hay.  Northeast Colorado began harvesting alfalfa 
for haylage.  Drought conditions continue in southwest Colorado.  
Southeast Colorado is currently harvesting 1st cutting alfalfa and 
triticale for hay.  Drought conditions in that region persist with some 
relief this past week.  Hay movement in the San Luis Valley continues to 
be on previously contracted hay.  Conditions very dry and windy.  
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 
26, 2020, as several slow-moving low pressure systems crossed the region 
this week and weekend, areas of rain and thunderstorms were common, 
excluding northeast South Dakota, eastern North Dakota, and parts of the 
southeast Colorado high plains.   Rain from a cluster of thunderstorms on 
Thursday in southwest Kansas prevented conditions from worsening there, 
though southwest Kansas and adjacent eastern Colorado remain very dry, 
and moderate, severe, and extreme drought persisted across parts of these 
areas. Extreme drought lessened in coverage in part of eastern Colorado 
due to recent rainfall and lessened short-term precipitation deficits.  
According to the NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report for week ending May 
24, 2020, 1st cutting harvested alfalfa hay is at 11 percent with crop 
condition percentages for alfalfa hay rated 5 percent Very Poor, 10 
percent Poor, 26 percent Fair, 50 percent Good and 9 percent Excellent.  
Stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 18 percent short, 
75 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.  The next available report 
will be Thursday, June 4, 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/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
   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
   Small Squares
       3-tie 90#: Premium 310.00 (14.00 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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