Hay Market Demand And Price Report For The Upper Midwest As Of April 10, 2015

Apr 14, 2015

Demand and Sales Activity

Overall hay prices were steady for this report compared to the previous report . H ay supplies are limited in some areas with the concern of a possible drought. This week is the last auction for the season at some locations.

For Nebraska , compared to the last report alfalfa hay sold mostly steady with slow m ovement of hay . Dry weather has some producers concerned and they are holding hay inventory rather than marketing the hay.

For Iowa , alfalfa hay sold steady. Buyer inquiry was moderate with light offerings of mostly lower quality hay this week.

In Sout h Dakota , light hay movement with steady prices on all classes of hay. A drought concern has some producers sold out of hay or holding on to supply until after first cut is finished. Approximately 60% of South Dakota is abnormally dry currently according t o the drought monitor.

For Missouri, some cattle in southern areas are out on pasture and most of the state has had adequate moisture . Hay feeding has decreased, but overall hay prices have been steady with light demand .

In Southwest Minnesota, prices were steady with light hay movement in the area .

For Illinois, demand was moderate too good for moderate hay offerings with steady to weaker prices.

In Wisconsin , hay prices were strong for all hay types with an active market with ligh t supplies .

There is a steady demand for s traw at local markets. Midwest straw price i s steady . Small square bale straw rebounded from the last report to $ 3 . 4 0 per bale (range of $1.00 to $6.00) ; numerous markets report a demand for small square bale s . L arge square bale straw price is steady with an average price of $ 3 5 . 60 per bale (range of $ 2 7 .00 to $ 5 6 .00); and large round bale straw was weaker with an average price of $ 34 .00 per bale (range of $ 2 7 .00 to $ 4 5 .00).

Source:uaex.edu

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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.