State-By-State Hay Summary

Colorado—In the May 8 report, compared to last report, trade activity and demand light. Small squares of horse quality alfalfa hay and grass hay sold unevenly steady. 

Missouri—In the May 8 report, compared to last report, hay prices are steady, supply and demand are light to moderate. Currently most hay demand is coming from equine interest. Hay season got started for a few this past week. A bit of alfalfa and some high moisture hay was wrapped. Harvest has been limited thus far however and producers have been watching quality decline as they wait to get into fields. Conventional grass hay is still a few weeks away and many producers historically sacrifice some quality for higher yields as most grass hay baling doesn’t really get underway till around the Memorial Day holiday. Pasture conditions across the state are mostly good to excellent.

Nebraska—In the May 8 report, compared to last report, alfalfa hay sold fully steady, grass or meadow hay trading $5 higher. Spot load of old crop dehydrated pellets $20 higher, sun-cured pellets steady. Ground and delivered hay steady. Demand has improved in the last two weeks with most contacts stating phones have been busy with producers looking for hay to buy. Several livestock owners remember the $200 plus per ton of hay a couple years ago and are willing buyers at today’s price levels. Will the price go up this growing season and how high it will get is the million-dollar question. Standing hay price for first cutting 2025 is starting out at $50 per ton.

Oklahoma—In the May 9 report, compared to last report, prices remain steady, and demand is at a standstill. Rain continuously covers Oklahoma, preventing hay producers from moving hay, and has stopped the alfalfa crop from being harvested. Still don’t see an end in sight for cattle being sold. The continued preparation for the new crop of grass hay is underway as well. The availability of grass hay is still high when it comes to supply across Oklahoma. Next report will be released May 23.

Texas—In the May 2 report, compared to last report, hay prices are mostly steady across all regions with moderate to light demand. Rainfall during the current and past few weeks led to large areas of improvement across the central, northern, and eastern portions of the Texas dryness and drought coverage. Dryness and drought remains widespread across most of Texas outside the northeast. Next report will be released May 16.

South Dakota—In the May 9 report, compared to last report, alfalfa and grass hay steady, little trading going on currently. Hay supplies remain adequate after a dry winter. Warm temperatures have alfalfa fields growing, rain would be welcomed after a rather dry and windy spring so far. 

New Mexico—In the May 9 report, according to the New Mexico Crop Progress Report, hay and roughage supplies were reported as 17% very short, 20% short, and 63% adequate, compared with 32% very short, 58% short, and 10% adequate last year. Alfalfa hay first cutting harvested, 60% current week, 40% previous week, 36% previous year and 26% complete for the 5-year average. For the second cutting only 1% is complete.

Wyoming—In the May 8 report, compared to the last report, movement has been steady. Most of the hay being sold is in small loads at a time as animals need feed waiting for grass to green up. Quite a few tons of hay left to sell in various areas of the state. Drought conditions persist across the state. According to the Wyoming crop progress report, as of May 4, hay supplies were reported to be 51% adequate, pasture and range conditions are 25% good condition, winter wheat is 5% good condition, alfalfa hay is 48% good condition, other hay is 62% good condition, with barley being 80% good condition.

Montana—In the May 9 report, hay sold $5 to $15 higher. Demand improved drastically over this past week as drought concerns have sparked some buying. Demand from Canadian buyers increased this week as well mostly due to drought concerns. Several loads of hay continue to sell north of the border this week. Demand for lower quality feeder hay has seen the most improvement as buyers are searching for lower cost hay as insurance for dry conditions. Several large sales of hay sold south into Wyoming as drought conditions to the south have led to buying hay for immediate use as grass has been slow to start. Supplies of hay continue to lighten and many producers went from expecting some carry over to expecting no carry over. Some areas of the state see dry conditions, while south central Montana is in very good position to put up a really good first crop as rainy wet conditions along with a recent warm up have been great for stands of alfalfa. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week with very good interest seen across the state.