These are hay prices paid at auction in the recent past weeks. Much of the price information is
obtained from USDA Hay Market News. Personal contacts of local Iowa hay auctions secured
price information for these market outlets. Auctions were chosen to reflect prices across Iowa.
Other nearby auctions may exist. No endorsement of the listed auctions is intended.
The USDA Market News group uses the following hay classification designations in their market price
reports. Of all hay sold, 1% or less would be designated in the supreme class. There is a general
relationship between visual characteristics and forage analyses. If possible, the following Hay test
analyses ranges (on dry matter basis) should be used to establish the appropriate quality designation.
When feeding livestock, sample all forage lots and use forage analysis information for balancing
livestock rations.
Relative Acid Neutral (Alfalfa*) (Mixed & Grass)
Feed Detergent Detergent Crude Crude
Value Fiber Fiber Protein Protein
RFV ) (ADF) (NDF) (CP) (CP)
index % % % %
Supreme > 185 < 27 < 34 > 22 **
Premium 70-185 27-29 34-36 20-22 >13
Good 150-170 29-32` 36-40 18-20 9 -13
Fair 130-150 32-35 40-44 16-18 5 - 9
Utility < 130 > 35 > 44 < 16 <5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Alfalfa & alfalfa with up to 10% grass (USDA)
** The 'Supreme' category is not appropriate for grass hays
Visual hay quality descriptions used in the USDA Hay Market News.
(Note: these visual traits do not necessarily equate to the forage analysis ranges
listed in the previous chart.)
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
(dairy quality) pre bloom or very early bloom legumes, grass vegetative,
generally green with no rain damage
Good
(dairy and feedlot quality) early to mid-bloom legumes, grass vegetative
or very early head, generally no rain
Fair
(feedlot or beef quality) mid- to late-bloom legumes, grass headed,
coarse/stemmy, may show some rain damage
Utility
(formerly 'Low') - very late maturity, or very coarse/stemmy, or considerable
discoloration or rain damage
This report for mid- to late-May 2008
Fort Atkinson (NE IA) Wednesdays, 1:00PM
(Kind and Quality of lots not stated)
1st Cut: SmSq $95-215/T; LgSq $105-200/T; LgRd $35-195/T
2nd Cut: SmSq $150-200/T; LgSq $115-245/T; LgRd $30-220/T
3rd Cut: SmSq $155-195/T; LgSq $135-230/T; LgRd $115-190/T
4th Cut SmSq $190-270/T; LgSq $200-250/T; (LgRd $90/T Apr)
Oat Hay LgRd $65/T
Straw: SmSq $130-160/T; LgSq $125-135/T; (LgRd $50-100/T Apr)
Cornstalks SmSq $40-65/T; LgRd $50/T
Dyersville (NE IA ) Thursdays 10:30 AM
Alfalfa:
Supreme (SmSq $215/T Apr)
Premium: LgSq $210-260/T; LgRd $180-220/T
Good: SmSq $2.10-2.60/bale; LgSq $155-215/T; LgRd $137.50-200/T
Fair: (SmSq $2.50/bale Apr); LgSq $130-180/T; LgRd $105-165/T
Utility: LgSq $67.60-145/T; LgRd $87.50-130/T
Mixed Leg/Gr:
Good to Excellent: (LgSq $130-225/T Apr)
Good: (SmSq $3.40-4.25/bale Apr); LgRd $140-220/T
Grass: (Good SmSq $2.80-2.85/b; LgSq $110-145/T; LgRd $100-130/T Apr)
CRP: (LgSq $130-140/T; LgRd Good $117.50-120/T Apr)
Oat Hay (LgRd $90-92.50/T Apr)
Prairie Hay" Good LgRd $130/T
Straw: LgSq $29-44//bale
Cornstalks: LgSq $27/bale; LgRd $27/bale
Riceville (NE IA) 1st & 3rd Fri Sales
Alfalfa: (LgRd $175-225/T Apr)
Mixed Alf/Gr: SmSq $3.00-4.50/b; LgSq $170-250/T
Straw: (LgSq $85-100/T Apr)
Cornstalks: LgRd $25bale
Forest City (NC IA) (Wed eve. sales)
Alfalfa: SmSq $4.00-5.75/b; (LgSq $55-70/b Apr)
Mixed Legume/Gr: SmSq $4.00-5.75/b; LgRd $55-110/T
Grass: SmSq $4.00-5.75/bale
Straw: SmSq $3.00-3.75/bale
Cornstalks: (SmSq $2.25/bale Apr)
Spencer Livestock Sales (NW IA) (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
Alfalfa: SmSq $4.80-5.50/bale; LgSq $140-160/T; LgRd $140-160/T
Mixed: (LgRd $130-150/T Apr)
Grass: LgRd $150/T
Straw: (SmSq $2.90-3.80/bale Apr)
Cornstalks: LgRd $27.50-32/bale
Rock Valley (NW IA) (Monday & Thursdays 1:00PM)
Alfalfa
Supreme: (SmSq $155-157.50/T Apr); LgSq $150-170/; LgRd $155-162.50/T
Premium: SmSq $140/T; LgSq $120-145/T; LgRd $125-152.50/T
Good: LgSq $110-115/T; LgRd $110-112.50/T
Fair: SmSq $70/T; LgRd $75/T
Mixed Hay
Premium: (SmSq $127.50/T; LgSq $125/T Apr); LgRd $140-200/T
Good: LgRd $120/T
Fair: (LgSq $65/T Apr)
Grass Hay
Premium: SmSq $125-180/T; LgSq $125-165/T; LgRd $120-185/T
Good: (SmSq $117.50/T Apr); LgSq $112.50-125/T; LgRd 100-125/T
Fair: SmSq $80-97.50/T; LgRd $87.50-97.50/T
Straw: LgSq $25-41/b; $45./T; LgRd $23/b, $72.50-102.50/T
Cornstalks : (LgSq $35/T Apr); LgRd $50-55/T ($25/b Apr)
Maurice (NW IA) (Thurs 12:30P)
Alfalfa:
Supreme: SmSq $180/T; (LgSq $145/T Apr)
Premium: LgSq $145-155/T; LgRd $120-150/T
Good: LgRd $117.50-125/T
Mixed Legume/Grass:
Premium: LgSq $155/T
Grass:
Premium: SmSq $175/T; LgSq $132.50-135/T; LgRd $155-160/T
Good: SmSq $125/T; LgSq $112.50/T; LgRd $90-120/T
Straw: (LgSq $80/T Apr); LgRd $80/T
Cornstalks: (LgSq $45/T Apr)
Denison (WC IA) (Sat 11:00A)
Alfalfa/Mixed Leg/Gr: SmSq $3.00-7.00/b; LgSq $80-120/b; LgRd $90-110/b
Grass: SmSq $3.00-8.00/bale
Straw; SmSq $3.00/b
Cornstalks: SmSq $1.50/b; (LgRd $30/bale Apr)
Stuart (WC IA) Noon Saturdays
Mixed Leg/Gr: (LgRd $67-87/bale Apr) No hay sold in recent weeks !
Cornstalks" (LgRd $34-37/bale Apr)
Perry (Central Iowa) (Sat Noon)
Alfalfa : SmSq $6.00-6.50/bale; LgRd $95/T
Mixed Leg/Gr: SmSq $5.50-6.00/bale
Grass: SmSq $4.50/bale; (LgRd $72-75/bale Apr)
Straw: SmSq $3.00/bale
Cornstalks: (SmSq $2.00bale; LgRd $22-24/bale Apr)
Private Broker Sales -- Ave. of prices from
South Central Iowa (Indianola & Adair); and North Central Iowa, (Hampton)
Sales limited in May -- waiting for new crop !
Alfalfa & Mixed Grass/Legume
Supreme: (SmSq $140-165/T; LgSq $140-165/T Apr)
Premium/Good: ((SmSq $125-150/T; LgSq $125-150/T; LgRd $100-125/T Apr)
Grass: Premium (SmSq $90-100/T; LgSq $ 90-100/T Apr)
Walcott (EC IA) 2nd Sat Dec-Mar; Noon
Sales resume in the Fall
Keosauqua (SE IA) Sat 11:30A
Alfalfa: SmSq $3.00-6.00/bale;
Grass : SmSq $2.00-3.75/bale
Straw: (SmSq $2.10-3.00/bale Apr)
Kalona (SE IA) 1st Thurs, Yr-round 11:30AM (& 3rd Thurs Oct-winter)
Mixed Leg/Gr: SmSq $3.30/b; LgSq $30/bale: (LgRd $45-67.50/T Apr)
Grass: SmSq $3.00-4.00/bale; (LgSq $30/bale Apr); LgRd $60/bale
Creston (SW IA) 10:30AM Friday
Alfalfa SmSq $4.50-6.50/bale LgRd $73-85/bale
Mixed Leg/Gr: (SmSq $4.50-5.75/bale Apr)
Grass: LgRd $51/bale
Straw: (SmSq $3.20/bale Apr)
Cornstalks: (LgRd $27-28/bale Apr)
Shenandoah (SW IA) Monday Sale
Alfalfa & Alf/Grass Mixed: SmSq $5.75-5.80/bale
"Missouri Market" (Mid / Late- May 2008 USDA Market Price Report)
Alfalfa Supreme (RFV >185): SmSq $160-200/T
Prem (RFV 170-180): $140-175/T
Good/Fair: (RFV 130-170) SmSq $90-160/T; LgSq $90-160/T; LgRd $80-150/T
Mixed Leg/Gr: Good SmSq $3.50-6.50/bale LgRd $40-75/bale
Grass :
Good/Prem LgSq $80-140/T
Good SmSq $60-120/T
Timothy SmSq $3.00-4.50/bale
Mixed grass: Fair LgRd $30-50/bale
Prairie hay: SmSq $80-125/T; LgRd $40-75/T
Bluestem Good/Fair LgRd $40/bale
Bermudagrass Good LgRd $50-65/bale, $70-80/T
Wheat Hay: $50-70/T
Straw: SmSq $2.00-3.50/bale
"Northern & Central Illinois (May 2008 USDA Market Report)
Alfalfa
Premium: SmSq $160-210/T: LgSq $160-185/T: LgRd $130-150/T
Good: SmSq $140-170/T; LgSq $140-165/T: LgRd $100-130/T
Fair: SmSq $120-140/T; LgSq $120-150/T; LgRd $80-100//T
Utility: SmSq $80-105/T; LgSq $100-120/T; LgRd $70-80/T
Mixed Leg/Grass
Premium: SmSq $160-190/T; LgSq $160-180/T
Good: SmSq $140-160/T; LgSq $130-160/T; LgRd $100-120/T
Fair: SmSq $120-140T; LgSq $110-140/T; LgRd $80-120/T
Utility: SmSq $80-100/T; LgSq $80-100/T; LgRd $60-80/T
Grass:
Premium: SmSq $140-180/T; LgSq $140-160/T; LgRd $100-130/T
Good : SmSq $120-140/T; LgSq $120-150/T; LgRd $80-100/T
Fair: SmSq $100-120/T; LgSq $100-120/T; LgRd $60-100/T
Utility; SmSq $80-100/T; LgSq $80-110/T: LgRd $50-75/T
Straw: SmSq $2.00-3.00/b, $80-120/T; LgSq $80-120/T; LgRd $50-60/bale
Wisconsin 'Market'
Waldo WI & Fon du Lac Co WI
Sales resume in the fall
"Minnesota Market"-SW MN (Mid- to late May 2008 USDA Market Report)
Alfalfa
Supreme: SmSq $155-225/T; (LgSq $157.50-160/T Apr); LgRd $155-205/T
Premium: SmSq $140-152.50/T; LgSq $145-160/T; LgRd $125-165/T
Good: (SmSq $97.50-112.50/T Apr); LgSq $120-125/T; LgRd $110-125/T
Mixed Leg/Gr
Premium: (SmSq $145/T Apr); LgSq $145/T; LgRd $125-185/T
Good: LgRd $105-112.50/T
Fair: LgRd $85/T
Grass
Premium: SmSq $140-155/T; LgSq $180/T; LgRd $125-200/T
Good: (LgSq $100-102.50/T Apr); LgRd $102.50-132.50/T
Fair: LgRd $70-102.50/T
Straw: SmSq $1.40-2.80/bale; LgRd $26-30/bale
Cornstalks: LgRd $21/bale
Houston County MN Tested Hay Auction 14 March 2008 (2nd Fri, Dec-March)
Sales resume in the fall
"South Dakota Market" (Mid- to Late-May 2008 USDA Market Report)
Alfalfa
RFV >185 LgSq $175-205/T
RFV >170-185 LgSq $135-180/T; LgRd $120-150/T
RFV 150-160 LgSq $90-115/T LgRd $95-120/T
Grinding Hay; LgSq $90-110/T; LgRd $90-110/T
Mixed Leg/Gr: Good LgRd $120-125/T
Grass: Good LgSq $115-120/T; LgRd $90-110/T
Fair LgSq $125/T
Straw: LgRd $50-60/T
Alcester, SD (SE SD) (Early to Mid-May 2008 USDA Report)
Alfalfa:
Supreme: SmSq $180/T, LgSq$160/T
Premium LgSq $130/T; LgRd $120-125/T
Good: (SmSq $100/T; LgRd $95-107.50/T Apr)
Mixed Leg/Gr: Premium (SmSq $135/T Apr)
Good LgSq $100/T; LgRd $105/T
(Fair LgRd $75/T Apr)
Grass: Premium (SmSq $125-140/T Apr); LgRd $110-120/T
Good LgRd $100/T
Fair: LgRd $75/T
Straw: (SmSq $2.10/b Apr); LgRd $100T
Note! Last sale at this location until Nov 2008
"Nebraska Market" (Mid- to late May 2008 USDA Report)
Alfalfa
Premium/Good SmSq $115/T; LgRd $85/T
'Grinding Hay - ground & delivered' $100-107/T
Straw: LgSq $60/T
----------------------------------------
Internet-based Hay Source possibilities:
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), responded to drought-
induced hay and pasture deficit conditions by its establishing a www
website - Hay Net - for producers to list information concerning the
need for hay or the availability of hay. The WWW link to this site is
listed below.
Using the USDA Hay Net page is not as user-friendly as the earlier
version. If you want to see the listings 'for sale', In the center-right
'box' on the page, select the line 'Access eHayNet Service'. That
will take you to the 2nd page where you must choose either: NEED
(hay ads) or HAVE (hay ads). Then a 'state' (the state where the
hay is listed,). The 'Select' button will then take you to the listings
for that state. Contacts and a limited description of hay available
or needed can be found. As with other 'hay list'-type www sites, price
and details about sales transactions must be completed between
buyer and seller. Note: Not all lots listed for a state are located in
that state, approximately half are from other states and Canada
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/hayNet?area=online&subject=landing&topic=han&setflag=welcome
I checked this site on 29 May 2008 and found the following
# of listings:
State Listings
Iowa 5
Missouri 25
Illinois 8
Wisconsin 9
Minnesota 4
South Dakota 7
Nebraska 12
IOWA HAY & STRAW DIRECTORY
The Marketing Division of the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship publishes a Hay & Straw Directory each Autumn. It
includes names & contact information for hay sellers, hay brokers,
auctions, commercial grinders, hay market associations, etc,.
They are taking new listings anytime and post them on the WWW
Hay and Straw Directory site. Clients are encouraged to use the
WWW site. A few printed booklets may be available, but may
not be as 'up-to-date' as is the WWW site version. Phone 1-800-383-5079
or (515) 281-5993 for information, or their WWW site:
http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/hay&straw.asp
Upper Midwest Haylist
"Electronic Market Service of Buyers and Sellers"
The Upper Midwest Haylist allows sellers to list lots of hay for
30-60 days, free of charge; & for buyers to access it for hay
availability. Sellers can include: name, address, Phone/FAX/e-mail,
type of hay (>95%alfalfa, Alf/Gr, Clover, >95% Grass etc),
type of bale, which cutting ex. 2000 2nd, tons/bales available,
quality ex. RFD or CP, asking price per ton.
http://www.haylist.umn.edu/index.asp
On 29 May 2008 the following was listed.
State Listings
Iowa -
Missouri -
Illinois -
Wisconsin 1
Minnesota 1
South Dakota -
Nebraska -
WWW 'Hay Lists' from other surrounding states....
South Dakota State University Extension Service -- "Feed Finder"
/ Hay List This www site provides opportunity to 'post messages'
about hay for sale, 'hay wanted', 'pasture for rent' etc. Use this www address:
http://sdces.sdstate.edu:8080/FeedFinder/?14@778.2gy9a9EQbao.0@
Wisconsin Extension provides a forage hay-list that it has established
Listings are by county. The list can be found at the following www site:
http://farmertofarmer.uwex.edu/
Missouri Hay Market www site.
http://agebb.missouri.edu/haylst/index.htm
Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Assn www site. Browse through the
"Inventory" tab. http://www.nebraska-alfalfa.com/
Nebraska Dept. of Agric Hay and Forage 'Hotline' www site
http://www.agr.state.ne.us/hayhot/hayhotline.htm
Commercial www sites
INTERNET HAY EXCHANGE
http :// www.hayexchange.com/hay.htm
Buyers and sellers can place and find specifics about type
of hay, location, quantity, price, quality, delivery options, etc.
on this commercial internet site. On 29 May 2008 listings were:
State Listings
Iowa 42
Missouri 45
Illinois 51
Wisconsin 54
Minnesota 27
South Dakota 23
Nebraska 34
Bid-4-Hay http://www.bid4hay.com/index.php?a=28&b=142&redirect_check=4
Operating in Oklahoma. It is an online hay classifieds and auction
listing service. Allows listing and searching for hay. The interactive
'search' engine asks for your Zip Code and the distance range that
you would like to search in. On 29 May, 2008 there was 1 listing
for hay within 300 miles of Ames Iowa.
Agri Hay Exchange http://www.agrihayexchange.com/hay/haylistings.aspx?ltID=2
Operating out of Pennsylvania. It is an online classified listing. It allows
for free searching for hay etc. but requires registration and a subscription fee
for more detaitls about the seller. There is also a subscription fee for sellers.
The 'Hay Barn" http://www.haybarn.com/reports/showads.asp?category=Hay
Hay listings are grouped by state. Sellers list type, description,
sometimes price, and telephone number.
The Haymarket
http://www.case-agworld.com/cAw.HM.html The 'main page' has a
lot of information. About 1/4 of the way down the page are some '
www links' to hay-related listings by 'region of the country. This
leads to various formats of hay listings.
---------------------------
If you need to look to a farther distance, Check the Manitoba Canada
www Hay & Forage Council site for Hay sellers:
http://www.mbforagecouncil.mb.ca/foragehaymarketing/provincialhaymarketersandprocessors/default.aspx
Provided by:
Stephen K. Barnhart
Professor of Agronomy - Forages Extension
2104 Agronomy Hall, 100 Osborn Dr.
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1010
Phone (Office) (515) 294-7835
FAX (Office) (515) 294-9985
email address sbarnhar@iastate.edu
11/6/2008