Source: USDA Market News | April 5, 2019
Compared to last week most hay classes sold steady to weak. Movement was slow as hay only trickles onto the market this time of year with the wait for new crop about a month away. The Panhandle is turning green but supplemental feeding continues but slowing down. The Coastal Bermuda producers in the north and east are having a difficult time getting into their fields due to rain so cutting new crop may be delayed this year. South Texas are no longer supplemental feeding and starting to cut first cutting of the year. Prices for hay and pellets quoted per ton except where noted.
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 220.00-230.00. Calf 235.00-240.00.
– 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.
– Millet: Large Bales: Delivered: 115.00-130.00.
– Milo Stalks: Large Bales: Delivered: 80.00.
– Hay Grazer: Large Bales: Delivered: 130.00-150.00.
– Cotton Burrs: Delivered: 90.00-95.00.
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.