Demand and Sales Activity
Overall hay prices decreased about $10 per ton this week . Limited p remium sales and increase in lower quality hay contributed to th e decline in price . H ay supplies are good , but demand remains moderate to light at most auctions . Summing up the sales this week, hay volume this week consisted of mostly lower quality hay.
For Nebraska , compared to the last report alfalfa hay sold full y steady . D emand picked up from the cow/calf producers purchasing more hay than normal.
For Iowa , all classes of hay were steady to lower .
In South Dakota , light to moderate hay movement repo rted this week with steady prices . There is a demand from d air ies for lower quality alfalfa hay to blend with premium quality hay to reduce ration cost . An open winter has allowed cattlemen to leave cows on cornstalks with limited supplemental hay feeding.
For Missouri , February weather has made it difficult to move hay. Overall hay prices are steady, with moderate supplies and light demand. In Southwest Minnesota , there was a de crease in hay available at the auction. The hay off ered was of lower quality and reduced price .
For Illinois , demand was moderate too good for light hay offerings with steady to higher prices. Winter weather caused poor road conditions in the state. In Wisconsin, hay prices were stronger for all hay types compared to last week .
Midwest straw price w as weaker for square bales again this week with a slight increase in the large round bales . S mall square bales averaged $ 2 . 6 0 per bale (range of $ 1 . 0 0 to $ 6 .00 ); large square bales averaged $2 1 . 6 0 per bale (range of $ 2 5 .00 to $ 45 . 0 0 ) ; and large round bale s were stronger averaging $ 41 . 7 0 per bale (range of $ 35 . 0 0 to $ 4 8 . 00 ). Overall demand is moderate, b ut q uality wheat straw has a good demand and price .
Source:uwex.edu
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