News
Alfalfa hay prices up substantially in the Midwest
One of the key indicators of the impact the drought has had on the Midwest is the price of alfalfa hay. USDA Dairy Market News notes the average price for a ton of alfalfa hay in April was $215, that is a $5 increase from a year ago. However, the change in price is quite different in the Midwest as compared to the West. There are increasing reports of dairy producers running short on hay in the Midwest and the prices are reflecting that. A ton of alfalfa hay in Iowa averaged $251 in April, up $108 from April of last year. Wisconsin’s price is up $120 at $225 a ton and Michigan’s price has doubled to $250. Minnesota is at $255 per ton up $105. South Dakota’s average price is $101 higher than a year ago at $236.
Meanwhile out west, California farmers are paying $207 per ton, down $28 from last April, Idaho is $10 cheaper at $190, Arizona is down $60 to $200 per ton, and New Mexico is $64 lower at $236.
Tags: Commodities, Farm Income/Prices, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
you mean to tell me alfalfa hay costs over ten dollars for a 70 lb bale!!! I used to sell hay for a penny a lb in the late early 70s and 80 . and that was 23 % protein highly digestable hay cut and conditioned with a 201 int swather. wow that is over 15% inflation per yr. whish I were farming in todays agriculture!!! we worked aur ass off and got taxed to death. in the 70s and 80s . whos wages have up 15% a year for 30 yrs?