Source: USDA ESMIS

Hay trades were steady on light demand and trading activity. Warmer temperatures and sporadic rains have offered temporary improvements on pastures and provided some relief for livestock producers, which has slowed hay demand. The general consensus is hay demand will pick up following the first real freeze and after fall harvest.

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: Premium to Supreme: 240.00- 260.00; Good: 175.00-190.00. Small bales: Delivered: Premium: 272.00, 8.25 per bale.
Ground Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: Avg 175.00-200.00. Calf 215.00-225.00.
Coastal Bermuda: Large Bales: Delivered: Premium to Supreme: 140.00-160.00.
Wheat: Large Bales: Delivered: Beardless 200.00-225.00. Bearded 115.00-130.00. Rained on 90.00-100.00.
Wheat Straw: Large Bales: Delivered: 90.00-100.00.
Sorghum: Large Bales: Delivered: Green 150.00; Brown 95.00-115.00.
Oat: Large Bales: Delivered: 170.00-175.00.
Mixed Grass: Large Bales: Delivered: 130.00.
CRP: Large Bales: Delivered: 85.00-90.00.

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.

North, Central, and East Texas
Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme 255.00- 270.00. Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium 6.00-10.00 per bale.
Large Rounds: FOB: Good to Premium 60.00-70.00 per roll.

South Texas
Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium 8.00-10.00 per bale; Fair to Good 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.

USDA Market News Service, Amarillo, TX
Lana Hutto, Market Reporter 806-356-5785
Landrea.hutto@ams.usda.gov
www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AM_GR310.txt