Source: USDA Market News | April 12, 2019
This week alfalfa sold steady to $5 lower as sellers dropped prices to get hay out of the barns and ready for new crop. All other hay classes remained steady. Trade activity was light on moderate demand as the wait for new crop continues. Supplemental feeding still going on in the Panhandle but pastures started to green up but will be hampered by the cold front that came in mid-week. Coastal Bermuda producers in the east are working on their first cutting.
Panhandle/High Plains
– Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme 265.00- 295.00; Good to Premium 250.00-265.00. Small bales: Delivered: Premium to Supreme 297.00-330.00, 9.00- 10.00 per bale.
– Ground Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: Avg 217.00-230.00. Calf 230.00
– Coastal Bermuda: Large Bales: Delivered: Good to Premium 205.00- 240.00; Fair to Good 180.00-205.00. Small Bales: Delivered: Good to Premium 360.00, 11.00 per bale.
– Wheat: Large Bales: Delivered: 175.00.
– Milo Stalks: Large Bales: Delivered: 80.00.
– Hay Grazer: Large Bales: Delivered: 130.00-150.00. FOB: 100.00-125.00.
– CRP: Large Bales: Delivered: 85.00-100.00.
Far West Texas/Trans Pecos
– Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered local or FOB: Premium to Supreme 330.00-360.00, 10.00-11.00 per bale. Large Squares: FOB: Premium to Supreme 275.00-280.00.
North, Central, and East Texas
– Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme 290.00- 310.00.
– Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium 297.00-400.00, 9.00-12.00 per bale. Large Rounds: FOB: Good to Premium 140.00-200.00, 70.00-100.00 per roll; Fair to Good 120.00-140.00, 60.00-70.00 per bale.
South Texas
Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium 264.00-330.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale. Large Rounds: FOB and delivered locally: Good to Premium 120.00- 200.00, 60.00-100.00 per roll; Fair to Good 100.00- 120.00, 50.00- 60.00 per roll.

Quantitative factors are approximate, and many factors can affect feeding value. Values based on 100 percent dry matter. End usage may influence hay price or value more than testing results.
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.