Weekly Hay Market Demand And Price Report For The Upper Midwest As Of January 16, 2015

Demand and Sales Activity

Temperatures moderated this past week , w hich increased activity at auction s. Overall hay prices were weaker this week compared to the previous week . S mall square bales were 10 % higher with only prime or grade 1 available. L arge square bale prices were down 8 % , and l arge round bale prices were down 18 % . Sales activity was light , but quality hay sold for a good pr ice .

For Nebraska , compared to the last report alfalfa hay sold steady . For Iowa , Small square premium alfalfa bales sold for a good price , with weakness in other bale types .

In South Dakota , hay prices were steady with l imited demand for lower quality alfalfa, with much of the winter supply hay purchased already .

For Missouri , h ay movement continues to be slow , hay supply is heavy and demand is light .

In Southwest Minnesota , hay prices were steady to weak with good supp ly . F or Illinois , no reports this week. In Wisconsin, hay pr ices were weaker compared to last week .

Straw prices in the Midwest averaged $ 3. 2 0 per s mall square bale (range of $ 2 . 0 0 to $ 5.00 ); $ 3 7 . 5 0 per large square bale (range of $ 15 .00 to $ 5 0 .00 ) ; and $ 4 4 . 0 0 per large round bale (range of $ 31 .00 to $ 5 7 . 5 0 ). Compared to the previous week, straw pric e s for small square bales price w ere steady.

For la rge sq uare bales, prices w ere 20 % lower ( 1 lower quality loa d) , while large round bale s w ere steady . There is good demand for quality wheat , while lower quality prices are weak.

Source:uwex.edu