Texas Hay Market Summary, Jan. 17, 2020

Source: USDA AMS Market News
Compared to last report, hay trades are mostly steady to firm. Feeding demand has continued to pick up as supplemental feeding is in full swing in most regions. Hay quality continues to be the largest determiner on price. There is still a lot of streaked hay or rained on hay on the market that is being used for supplemental feeding or ground and delivered into the feedlots. Moderate to heavy rain fell upon the North and Central regions, with heavy rains reported in East Texas. According to the US Drought Monitor, the rains in East Texas helped ease drought conditions in the area and increased streamflows.  

The Texas Department of Agriculture has a Hay Hotline set up for buyers and sellers looking for hay or grazing; the number is 1-512-787-9966.
Panhandle/High Plains
Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Supreme: 275.00-300.00; Premium: 230.00-260.00; Good: 175.00-190.00; Utility 130.00.
Small bales: Delivered: Premium: 260.00-275.00, 8.00-9.00 per bale.
Ground Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: Avg 175.00-205.00.
Calf 215.00-218.00.
Coastal Bermuda: Large Bales: Delivered: Premium: 160.00- 180.00
Sorghum: Large Bales: Delivered: Good: 115.00-125.00.
CRP: Large Bales: Delivered: 85.00-95.00.
Oat: Large Bales: Delivered: 160.00.
Cotton Burrs: Delivered: 95.00-105.00.
Far West Texas/Trans Pecos
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered local or FOB: Premium to Supreme: 290.00-330.00, 10.00-11.00 per bale.
Large Squares: FOB: Premium to Supreme: 250.00-265.00.
Triticale: Large Rounds: FOB: 65.00 per roll.
North, Central, and East Texas
Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme: 255.00-270.00.
Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Premium: 260.00-330.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale; Good: 200.00-260.00, 6.00-10.00 per bale.
Large Rounds: FOB: Good to Premium: 120.00-140.00, 60.00-70.00 per roll.
South Texas
Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium: 260.00-330.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale; Fair to Good: 165.00-260.00, 5.00-8.00 per bale.
Large Rounds: FOB and delivered locally: Good to Premium: 120.00-160.00, 60-80.00 per roll; Fair or Grass Mix: 100.00-110.00, 50.00-55.00 per roll.

Hay Quality Designation’s physical descriptions 
-Supreme: Very early maturity, pre bloom, soft fine stemmed, extra leafy. Factors indicative of very high nutritive content. Hay is excellent color and free of damage.
-Premium: Early maturity, i.e., pre-bloom in legumes and pre head in grass hays, extra leafy and fine stemmed-factors indicative of a high nutritive content. Hay is green and free of damage.
-Good: Early to average maturity, i.e., early to mid-bloom in legumes and early head in grass hays, leafy, fine to medium stemmed, free of damage other than slight discoloration.
-Fair: Late maturity, i.e., mid to late-bloom in legumes, head-in grass hays, moderate or below leaf content, and generally coarse stemmed. Hay may show light damage.
-Utility: Hay in very late maturity, such as mature seed pods in legumes or mature head in grass hays, coarse stemmed. This category could include hay discounted due to excessive damage and heavy weed content or mold.  Defects will be identified in market reports when using this category.