Hay Market Demand And Price Report For The Upper Midwest As Of January 9, 2017

Jan 10, 2017

Demand and Sales Activity

Some markets have not sent out reports from last week ’ s auctions. This may or may not be related to the holiday season. Overall the m arket is steady to a touch lower this week. L ower quality hay has influenc e d the market .

For Nebraska , demand is light , prices were steady this week . A dequate supplies of hay provide resistance t o a n increase in price s .

For Iowa , supply is adequate to cover needs with s t eady prices. Demand improved after the holiday season, but prices have remain ed steady. No certified organic hay this week on the market.

In South Dakota , all classes of hay sold steady to weak with very few reported sales . Demand is light. Low cost of other cattle feed is providing little reason to pay more for hay. Better demand for bedding with snow and cold temperatures. In I llinois , no reports from any markets this week .

For Missouri, no report this week . In Southwest Minnesota, total loads of hay have increased this week . Grade 1 or lower quality was available and low quality hay was discounted. In Wisconsin , hay p rice s were lower reflecting only lower quality hay available at the auction. Overall the s traw market had little move ment in prices . Small square bale straw price decreased a veraging $ 2 . 5 0 a bale this week (range of $ 1 . 0 0 to $ 4 . 5 0) .

Large square bale price was stronger with an a verag e price of $ 3 6 . 0 0 per bale (range of $ 20 . 00 to $ 65 .00) . L arge round bale s were unchanged from the last report at $ 3 2 .00 per bale (range of $ 2 5 .00 to $ 3 5 .00) . M arkets mentioned a demand for bedding material s this week with colder weather .

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.