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Hay market prices up, quality down, inventories low

A Wisconsin extension crop specialist says hay prices are up and overall quality is down.  Richard Halopka tells Brownfield there’s a lack of dairy-quality hay right now. “So a lot of that top-end, that 150-plus relative feed value is just not available. So, if there is some, it’s at a premium price.”

Halopka has talked to several dairy farmers in Wisconsin, and they are all having the same problem. “The bunker silos and the silos are emptying out faster than they anticipated. We’re sitting here on May 3rd, and they’re looking at hay fields and hopefully, we can get some forage in there about June 1st. Otherwise, they may be running out.”

Halopka says 2019 is going to go down as the coolest or second coolest spring on record, which is why forages are not growing like they should for early May.   

For farmers that need fast forage this season, Halopka says they need good weather and, “I think your quickest response would be a small grain planted as soon as you can get it in the field. Plant it maybe a little thicker. You could add some peas to it if you prefer, but I would plant 100-120 pounds of seed per acre.”

Prime hay is selling for an average of $231 dollars a ton in large square bales and $199 a ton in round bales.  Lower-quality grade three hay is selling for an average of $180 a ton.

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