By Ken Barnett
Demand and Sales Activity
Compared to the previous week, small square bal e prices were down 3 % . Large square bale prices were up 12 %. Large rou nd bale prices were steady . Sales activity was very light to light .
For Nebraska , hay prices were steady on limited alfalfa hay sales . The most sought after products right now is dairy quality hay in large square bales and ground and delivered cornsta lks. Standing hay in the Platte valley is at 70.00 per ton. Most areas are starting to get a little dry and could use a good general rain. For Iowa , hay prices were $ 31.25 high er on very limited alfalfa hay sales . There was very limited hay movement ag ain this week. Warmer and dryer temperatures continued this week and enabled producers to put good or better hay in the barns.
In South Dakota , hay prices were steady to $4.75 high er . Demand was good for dairy quality hay, with less demand for lower q uality. There was good demand for high quality grass hay to start calves on feed, with much less demand for lower quality grass. Straw being baled in central South Dakota was moving east this week.
Dry conditions this week again, outside of a few areas that received a shot of rain last week, is really affecting alfalfa regrowth after the second cutting was made. Some growers are reporting that third cutting looks to be drastically reduced due to drought conditions. Condition of the corn crop looks very good across the trade area. Moisture has been short, but temperatures have been mild, even cool some days, during this critical time of pollination. As the corn price declines, buyers of hay also want to cheapen their forage cost as well.
For Missour i , alfalfa hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Hay supply is moderate and demand is light . Cooler temperatures returned to the state and July is officially going to go into the record books as one of the top ten coolest on record. Despite the unseasonably cool month, many producers are expressing that lack of moisture is quickly becoming a serious concern. The university also warned producers to be on the lookout for striped blister beetles as they have been showing up in high num bers in some alfalfa fields. Hay movement continues to be very limited.
In Southwest Minnesota , hay prices were $ 20 .00 low er . The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 62 percent complete, 12 points ahead of last week. Reports of third cuttings of alfalfa were observed in southern Minnesota. All hay conditions increased to 66 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions decreased to 73 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions were rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 20 perce nt fair, 57 perc ent good, and 16 percent excellent.
The demand for Illinois hay was light to moderate, with most of the demand coming from the dairy and horse interests. Market activity was slow, with moderate to heavy offerings. Some hay producers had finished their second cuttings of alfalfa, while others were finishing their third. Yields have been very good so far for many producers, but many areas will need rainfall to continue that trend. The demand for wheat straw was good to very good, with trading moderate to active and light to moderate supplies of straw. Pasture condition s were stable and rated at 1 % very poor ; 2% poor; 26 % fair; 55 % good; and 16 % excellent.
Cool summer temperatures and scattered afternoon and evening showers prevailed during the final week of July. Needed rainfall across the state improved declining topsoil moisture reserves and eased stress on pollinating corn and pod - setting soybeans. Rain ha s been insufficient for much of Wisconsin in July. The second cutting was 81 percent complete. The third cutting was 8 percent complete. All hay condition was rated 85 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions declined a nd were rated at 0% very poor ; 3 % poor; 19 % fair; 62 % good; and 16 % excellent.
per large square bale (range of $ 26.25 to $ 54.38 ) ; and $ 38.90 per large round bale (range of $ 9 .00 to $ 58. 75 ). Compared to the previous week, straw pric e s for small square bales were 19 % low er . For la rge sq uare bales, prices were 21 % high er . For large round bales, prices were 39 % higher .
Source:uwex.edu
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