USDA Hay Report - Jan 2, 2009

Hay prices remain steady amidst predictions of a softer market in the new year.

AMARILLO, TX Jan 02, 2009 -- Compared to last week: Prices for hay holding mostly steady, although there have been comments made about the possibility of the market softening a bit after the first of the year. However, contracts for Chopped Alfalfa for spring months are still quoted at steady, if not a little stronger. Trade activity and movement slow for Alfalfa and moderate to active on Coastal Bermuda as those growing areas are still in a severe drought and have very limited grazing pastures available.

Due to the increase of supplemental feeding, some producers are running short on large rounds of Coastal and in other areas, some producers supplies on small squares of Coastal are dwindling. Buyers and sellers remain in a standoff over hay waiting to see that the New Year will bring.

The web site for TDA is www.tda.state.tx.us. Prices for hay and pellets quoted per ton except where noted.

Panhandle:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 230.00-250.00, 7.00-8.50 per bale; Good to Premium quality 200.00-230.00, 6.50-7.00 per bale.
Large Squares: Delivered: Supreme to Premium quality 200.00-260.00; Good to Premium quality 170.00-200.00.

Chopped Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: North: 195.00-200.00. South: 200.00-215.00. Coastal Bermuda: Small squares: Delivered: 7.00-7.50 per bale. Large rounds: Delivered: Premium quality: 140.00, 85.00 per roll; Good quality 125.00-135.00; 65.00 per roll.

Prairie Hay: Small squares: Delivered: 175.00-190.00; 7.00 per bale. Large
squares: Delivered: 140.00-160.000. Large rounds: Delivered: 85.00 per roll.

Beardless Wheat: Large rounds: Delivered: 70.00 per roll.

West Texas:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: FOB: Premium to Supreme quality 230.00-280.00, 7.50-
10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 200.00-230.00; 7.00-7.50 per bale.
Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 220.00-260.00; Good to
Premium quality 190.00-230.00; Good quality 160.00-190.00.

North, Central and East Texas:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 240.00-300.00,
7.00-10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 6.00-7.00 per bale. FOB: Good to
Premium quality 5.00-7.00 per bale in the barn. Large Squares: Delivered:
Premium to Supreme quality 230.00-260.00; Good to Premium quality 180.00-230.00.

Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Premium quality 6.00-8.50 per bale; Fair
to Good quality 5.00-6.00 per bale. Large rounds: FOB: Premium 70.00-90.00;
Good quality 50.00-70.00; Fair quality 40.00-50.00 per roll.

South Texas:
Coastal Bermuda: Small squares: FOB or delivered locally: Good quality 5.00-
7.50 per bale. Large rounds: FOB: Good quality 50.00-70.00; Poor quality 30.00-
40.00 per roll.

See the full report at http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/am_gr310.txt