Forage Fodder: 2026

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

USDA Hay Markets – January 20, 2026

Rock Valley Hay Auction (Mon) - Rock Valley, IA

Dakota Hay Auction - Corsica, SD (Monday)

Monday, January 19, 2026

State-By-State Hay Markets

Colorado—In Dec. 19 report, compared to the last report, rade activity light on moderate demand. Prices mostly steady. Due to the upcoming holidays, the next available report will be Jan. 15.

Missouri—In the Jan. 7 report, ost livestock owners are enjoying not dealing with mud or having problems getting trucks or tractors started, but in the back of everyone’s mind is the lack of moisture and how much some is needed before the new growing season.Prices seem to have stabilized and are mostly steady. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has a hay directory at https://apps.mda.mo.gov/haydirectory or visit the University of Missouri Extension feed stuff finder at https://feedstufffinder.org.

Nebraska—In the Dec. 18 report, compared to two weeks ago, all reported hay sales sold steady. Demand was mostly light instances moderate in some areas for bales of forage. Good demand for dehy and suncured pellets for regrinding into feed products. Reports of quite a lot of 2024 hay sitting around the state plus a rather large supply of 2025 hay along with several thousands bales of cornstalks. Most of the cornstalk bales are taking the excess trash off fields but are adding a surplus of roughage to a market that is already saturated with product to market. Some livestock owners are supplementing feeding in the cold snap this month, but overall tonnage fed has been quite a lot less for most Decembers compared to previous years. The next report release will be on Jan. 15.

Oklahoma—In the Jan. 2 report, compared to the last report, movement is at a standstill to steady. The next report release will be on Jan. 16.

Texas—In the Jan. 9 report, compared to the last report, hay prices were steady with good demand. Drought conditions continued to intensify in far south Texas. The next available hay report will be Jan. 23.

South Dakota— In the Dec. 12 report, compared to last report, light to moderate demand for all types of hay. Good demand for corn stalks and straw. Winter weather moved into the region Demand for hay is starting to improve as the weather has been cold and snowy, more cold on the way for the weekend as the next Alberta clipper moves through with temps plunging to -20°F.

Wyoming— In Jan. 8 report, compared to the last report hay sales reported trading steady. Demand is mostly light, instances moderate. Dry, windy conditions continue across the state and some ranchers are afraid hay price will go up this year’s growing season so some are laying in enough hay to get through the winter of 2026-2027. Some hay contacts have decided to retire from the hay productions business as they have sold their ground to the younger generation.

Montana— In Jan. 9 report, compared to last report, Hay sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher. Hay in Northern and Western portions of the state have seen supplies tighten over the past few weeks. Many producers in Western Montana report they are sold out of hay for the season. Hay in the southern portions of the state have seen increased demand due to tighter supplies. This has caused prices to rise since the last report. Demand for round bales is very good as many ranchers report that they are hard to find. Hay in rounds are a 10.00-20.00 premium to hay in squares.

This is mostly driven by rancher demand. Winter weather conditions have been very mild which has helped curb some demand for hay. While several snow storms accrued over the last few weeks much of that snow melted and was absorbed into the ground as some locations have yet to see the ground completely freeze. According to the drought monitor 19.79 of the state is in Moderate drought or worse, down 27.27% from 4 weeks ago. 8.08 of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, down 12.38% from 4 weeks ago. 1.46% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, down 2.24% from 4 weeks ago. 0% of the state is in Expectational drought, unchanged from 4 weeks ago. Notably, 51.39% of the state is abnormally dry, down 13.37% from 4 weeks ago

Friday, January 16, 2026

Ample supply, soft demand

Across the West, hay supplies remain ample and demand has struggled to gain traction. Hay trade remained slow through December, reflecting both the holiday period and broader demand weakness. Softer milk prices have significantly weighed on dairy profitability. Demand for hay has been further pressured by unseasonably warm winter weather. Mild conditions have extended grazing opportunities and reduced the urgency to purchase supplemental forages, contributing to stagnant trading activity despite abundant hay availability.

In Arizona and California’s Imperial Valley, haying conditions have been challenging this winter due to persistent wet weather and a series of storm systems moving through the region. Some producers were able to get hay baled ahead of major storms, though scattered fields experienced quality impacts from excess moisture. Wet field conditions have also limited access in some areas, slowing harvest and movement. Livestock range conditions in general are very good, further limiting hay demand next summer. Despite these challenges, retail hay prices across the Imperial Valley have remained generally steady with modest volumes traded. Extended periods of forage availability and cautious buying behavior continue to limit demand, keeping transactions selective and price movement muted.

Export markets remain a significant source of pressure across the U.S. Year-to-date hay shipments for 2025 are down 18.9% compared to 2024, with exports to four of the five major international buyers declining more than 9%. Many exporters continue to hold sizable alfalfa inventories, reflecting several years of slower export movement.

The pullback in Chinese demand has been particularly difficult for West Coast exporters. Over the past decade, substantial export press capacity was built to serve China’s growing dairy industry. Demand has since contracted sharply, with hay exports to China down roughly 20% in 2025 compared to 2024. The decline reflects not only reductions in China’s dairy herd, but also broader economic challenges across several Asian importing countries. These factors were compounded by elevated U.S. hay prices following the severe droughts of 2021 and 2022, as well as a strong U.S. dollar that made American hay less competitive. During this period, exporters were forced to navigate heightened price volatility and currency risk, further eroding margins.  

For producers, market conditions remain challenging. Hay prices have been under pressure for roughly three consecutive years—longer than in previous downturns. If export demand remains subdued, producers could face another difficult season in 2026. The outlook for hay acres is cloudy. On one hand, the prospects for increased hay demand are limited. On the other hand, there are few, if any, profitable alternative crops. Additional acreage shifting into hay would risk prolonging oversupply and delaying meaningful price recovery.