USDA Hay Report - Jan. 23, 2009

Hay prices this week generally steady to lower.

AMARILLO, TX., Jan. 23, 2009 -- Compared to last week: Hay prices generally steady to weak in a slow to moderate trade. However, chopped alfalfa 5.00-10.00 per ton lower. High quality alfalfa for horses or dairy farms continues to be limited in supply.

Feedlots placements have been below normal and many suppliers have extended the contract period to accommodate feedlots. Some firmness noted due to the increased use by wheat and oat pasture operators as they use hay for supplemental feeding.

Decreasing dairy/milk prices has many dairy farms cutting back production and hay requirements. Several feedlots resorted to grinding corn stalks, Milo, and other rough hays particularly earlier in the season when hay prices looked like they were going higher.

Most of the state continues dry with very short soil moisture and tanks and ponds continue to dry-up. Supplemental feeding of hay continues but some Producers have run out of water and have been forced to sell-off livestock or haul water.

The state of Texas Department of agriculture has the Hay and Grazing Hot Line set up for buyers and sellers, number is 1-877-429-1998. 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 240.00-300.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale;
Good to Premium quality 200.00-240.00, 7.00-8.00 per bale.

Large Squares: Delivered:
Supreme to Premium quality 200.00-250.00, instances to 265.00;
Good to Premium quality 190.00-200.00;
Fair to Good quality 160.00-190.00;
Fair quality 135.00.

Chopped Alfalfa:
Delivered to feedlots:
North: 180.00-190.00.
South: 185.00-190.00.

Sorghum Hay:
Large rounds: Delivered: 100.00-110.00.

Oat Hay:
Large Bales: Delivered: 155.00.

Bluestem Grass Hay: Delivered: large rounds: 120.00.

Haygrazer: Delivered: large rounds 125.00-135.00.

West Texas:
Alfalfa:
Small Squares: FOB:
Premium to Supreme quality 240.00-300.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale;
Good to Premium quality 200.00-240.00; 7.00-8.00 per bale.

Large Squares: Delivered:
Premium to Supreme quality 200.00-250.00;
Good to Premium quality 190.00-200.00;
Good quality 160.00-190.00.

North, Central and East Texas:
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered:
Premium to Supreme quality 240.00-300.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale;
Good to Premium quality 7.00-8.00 per bale.

FOB:
Good to Premium quality 5.00-7.00 per bale in the barn.
Large Squares: Delivered:
Premium to Supreme quality 200.00-250.00;
Good to Premium quality 190.00-200.00.

Coastal Bermuda:
Small Squares: FOB:
Premium quality 6.00-7.50 per bale;
Fair to Good quality 5.00-6.00 per bale.

Large rounds: FOB:
Premium 70.00-80.00;
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:
Premium quality 70.00-85.00;
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.