Colorado Hay Report

Compared to last week, trade activity and demand moderate.  Northeast 
Colorado 2nd cutting alfalfa harvest in full swing.  Southeast Colorado 
is still battling extreme drought as they are beginning to harvest 2nd 
cutting alfalfa.  Growers harvesting meadow grass hay are experiencing 
extreme yield loss.  In the San Luis Valley, the monsoon season is 
starting, delaying the beginning of 2nd cutting alfalfa.  Producers in 
the SLV have started putting down meadow grass and are only expecting 50 
percent of the normal tonnage.  In southwest Colorado drought continues 
to add pressure to market prices as irrigation water is getting short.  
No trades were reported in the Mountains and Northwest Colorado regions 
as hay producers are holding out for better market conditions on old crop 
horse quality hay with new crop to be harvested soon at a 10-15 percent 
yield loss compared to prior years.  According to the U.S Drought 
Monitor’s Drought Classification Map of Colorado for July 14, 2020, 
category percentages were:  None 4.64, D0-D4 95.36, D1-D4 70.20, D2-D4 
57.84, and D3-D4 36.91.  According to the NASS Colorado Crop Progress 
Report for week ending July 12, 2020, 1st cutting harvested alfalfa hay 
is at 96 percent, 2nd cutting at 31 percent with crop condition 
percentages for alfalfa hay rated 9 percent Very Poor, 12 percent Poor, 
29 percent Fair, 44 percent Good and 6 percent Excellent.  Stored feed 
supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 73 percent 
adequate, and 2 percent surplus.  The next available report will be 
Thursday, July 23, 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: Good 150, DEL.
                  Fair/Good 150.00.
                  Fair 135.00-145.00, DEL Contract.
     Mid Squares: Premium 190.00, Retail/Stable.
    Large Rounds: Supreme 220.00, Retail/Stable.
                
  Alfalfa/Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 307.50-330.00 (9.25-10.00), Retail/Stable.
  Timothy/Brome Grass Mix
   Small Squares: Premium 340.00-350.00 (9.50-9.75 per bale), 
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
  Alfalfa
     Mid Squares: Premium 180.00.
   Small Squares: Premium 240.00 (8.00 per bale).
 21-bale Bundles: Premium 322.50 (10.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
                
  Grass
   Small Squares: Premium 315.00 (9.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
  Triticale
     Mid Squares: Premium 140.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

San Luis Valley Areas
  Alfalfa
   Large Squares: Premium 190.00.
                  Fair 160.00.
   No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.

Southwest Colorado Areas
  Alfalfa
   Large Squares: Premium/Supreme 175.00-185.00.
  Orchard Grass
       95# 3-tie: Premium 360.00 (17.00 per bale), Retail/Stable 
Contract.
   No reported quotes from all other classes of hay.

Mountains and Northwest Colorado Areas
   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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