Hay Market Demand and Price Report for the Upper Midwest
As of June 13, 2016
Data Compiled by Richard Halopka UW-Extension Clark County
Crops & Soils Agent
All hay prices quoted are dollars per ton FOB point of origin for alfalfa hay unless otherwise noted.
The information presented in this report is compiled from public and private sales and reports in the
Midwest.
The past several months of hay reports are archived. To view previous hay reports, go to the Team
Forage web site and click on the past hay reports section.
Hay auction data will be collected on the first and third week of the month and posted on the
following Monday when possible.
Demand and Sales Activity
At first glance overall hay price increased on this report compared to the previous report. Small lots of
small square bales have influenced the price. Compared to the previous report hay prices are steady to
weaker for larger packaged hay. Lower quality round bale hay was discounted at some auctions. Overall
the comments were of adequate supply from most markets with little buying interest.
Upper Midwest Hay Price Summary by Quality Grade
Hay Grade
Bale type
---------- Price ($/ton) ----------
Average
Minimum
Maximum
Prime (> 151 RFV/RFQ)
Small Square
$297.00
$200.00
$370.00
Large Square
$170.00
$135.00
$230.00
Large Round
No Reported Sales
Grade 1 (125 to 150 RFV/RFQ)
Small Square
$171.00
$80.00
$275.00
Large Square
$126.00
$90.00
$175.00
Large Round
$91.00
$70.00
$115.00
Grade 2 (103 to 124 RFV/RFQ)
Small Square
$109.00
$60.00
$150.00
Large Square
$95.00
$40.00
$140.00
Large Round
$72.00
$30.00
$115.00
Grade 3 (87 to 102 RFV/RFQ)
Small Square
$157.00
$140.00
$175.00
Large Square
No Reported sales
Large Round
$45.00
$5.00
$73.00
For Nebraska, all types of hay sold steady on a thin test. The report from the country is weather is
cooperating to harvest dry hay with above average tonnage. For Iowa, some first cut hay quality is
suffering from rained on hay. The current weather pattern should allow farmers to wrap up first crop.
Market is lower with limited interest in hay.
In South Dakota, limited trades have been made this week as demand is light at best with lower
undertones for price. About 50% of hay sales were 2016 crop. First cutting is wrapping up in the state. In
Illinois, demand for hay was moderate to good, with moderate market activity, for light to moderate
offerings with prices holding steady. Some farmers are watching weather to finish first crop, while others
are ready to start second crop.
For Missouri, nearly every piece of hay equipment was in the field this past week. Hay yield has provided
a heavy supply of hay, with light demand, and steady prices. Many farmers are pricing hay in the field for
some early sales. The first reports of wheat harvest were made this week and new crop straw will be
available soon.
In Southwest Minnesota, good activity at the market this week with limited quality alfalfa hay offered.
Prices were steady to weaker, good volume, with light demand.
In Wisconsin, hay supply exceeds demand at most auctions. Prices were steady this week with small
square bales supporting the hay market. Hay harvest in Wisconsin is the tale of two seasons, as some high
quality forage was harvested prior to June 1 and wet weather has delayed harvest in many areas in the
state.
Small square bale price has moved up to $4.00 a bale this week (range of $1.50 to $6.00). Large square
bale price decreased $3.00 a bale this week, with comments of poor quality straw at a few auctions. The
average price is $30.00 per bale (range of $15.00 to $47.00); and large round bale straw had only one
reported sale of $34.00 per bale, which was $17.00 higher than the last report.
The next Hay Market Demand and Price Report for the Upper Midwest will be posted on June 27, 2016.
Due to the lack of quality-tested hay auctions in Wisconsin, the following links are included in this
report allowing producers to obtain some state and nearby state prices (these may or may not be quality
tested auctions). The Equity Cooperative market report is at
http://livestock.equitycoop.com/market_reports/. Go to the Lomira and Reedsville locations for their
reports on hay and straw prices.
The Fennimore Livestock Exchange is at
http://www.fennimorelivestock.com/index.php?site=home.
The Reynolds Feed & Supply, LLC of Dodgeville is at http://www.reynoldslivestock.com/what1snew/.
The Tim Slack Auction and Realty, LLC of Fennimore is at
http://www.timslackauctionrealty.com/market%20report.html.
The Zumbrota Hay & Bedding Auction of Zumbrota, MN is at
http://cla.crinet.com/page5295/ZumbrotaHayAndBeddingAuction.
The Dyersville Sales Company of Dyersville, Iowa is at http://dyersvillesales.com/hay-auction/hay-
auction-results/. Fort Atkinson auction is at http://www.fortatkinsonhay.com/
The Farmer to Farmer website is an electronic neighborhood bulletin board that allows local farmers to
get in touch with one another to facilitate the marketing of feed commodities. It has recently been
expanded to connect those with productive pastures to those producers who are in need of pastures. It can
be found at http://farmertofarmer.uwex.edu/. If you would like assistance posting to this web site, contact
your county’s UW-Extension agriculture agent.
2014 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, doing business as the Division of
Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension
