The price of alfalfa in October hardly changes

According to the USDA, the average price of alfalfa rose $1 per ton in October compared to September, settling at $173 Agricultural prices Report. The average price of grass hay (other hay) rose $7 per ton to $147. None of these values ​​are of great importance, but the difference between the two is. The $26 gap between average alfalfa and grass hay prices was the smallest such difference since April 2017.

Supreme and premium alfalfa hay prices rebounded somewhat in October, averaging $236 per ton, up $9 from the previous month.

Nine states saw double-digit alfalfa price increases in October compared to the previous month. Pennsylvania led this group with an improvement of $21 per ton. New York followed closely with an increase of $20 per ton. Wisconsin and Wyoming were both up $15 per ton, while California, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma and Utah were each up $10 per ton compared to the previous month.

Only Texas saw a double-digit decrease in alfalfa price month-over-month, down $22 per ton.

The highest average alfalfa hay price in October was reported in New Mexico at $250 per ton, closely followed by Texas at $248. Pennsylvania and California each averaged $240 per ton.

North Dakota recorded the lowest average price for alfalfa at $98 per ton. This was followed by Minnesota at $110 and South Dakota at $115.

Note that USDA average prices take into account all hay grades and bale types sold. Additionally, the final U.S. estimate is a volume-weighted average and not a simple average of state values. The states with the most sales have a greater impact on the final dollar value than the states with fewer sales.

Supreme and premium

The USDA also tracks prime and premium alfalfa prices in major dairy states and averages prices from the five largest milk producing states (California, Idaho, New York, Texas and Wisconsin). This data is used to determine feed prices in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.

In October, the average price for Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay increased $9 per ton to $236, following a $9 decrease in the previous month. A year ago, the average price for Supreme and Premium alfalfa hay was $278 per ton.

Other hay

The average price of other hay (mainly grass) rose $7 in October from September to $147 per ton, which was still $25 per ton lower than a year ago.

The highest October price for hay other than alfalfa was reported in Oregon at $215 per ton. Washington had the second highest price at $205. Pennsylvania and New York each reported grass hay prices $27 higher than last month.

North Dakota had the lowest reported average price for other hay at $82 per ton. Minnesota followed at $88 per ton.