News
Hay market prices not moving much yet
A University of Wisconsin Extension expert that tracks the nation’s hay market says prices didn’t move a lot over the winter. Richard Halopka tells Brownfield farmers are paying good money for good large square bales. He says, “I would say, about the end of March, you were seeing about a five dollar a ton pressure downward, and I’d say this week, I see about a five dollar a ton pressure upward.”
Halopka says there are some drought fears in the market, and it is still unclear how good the first cutting will be, so prices reflect that. “Good quality hay is running about a dollar to a dollar and a quarter per relative feed value point, so you know, good quality hay, 200 to 230 bucks a ton. You know, that’s 150 relative feed value and up.”
Halopka says the 100 relative feed value and down category is still down ranging from 60 to 110 dollars a ton, and the 125 relative feed value hay is going for around $200 dollars a ton. He says the grassy hay commonly used for feeders and weaned cattle is expected to drop in value as animals get turned out to pasture.
