Michigan hay prices trend lower in 2013 compared to 2012

Phil Kaatz<kaatz@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - October 04, 2013

Good, high quality dairy hay is still a premium product.

The preliminary USDA Agricultural Prices were recently released and the prices for September hay are lower nationally compared to September of last year (2012) and August of this year for alfalfa hay, other hay and all hay. These prices reflect survey results of farms in the respective states. Michigan reported a slight decrease from August and a slight increase from September of last year. The following table shows the results from the reporting North Central States.

State	All hay $/ton			Alfalfa hay $/ton			Grass hay $/ton
State	Sept. 2012	Aug. 2013	Sept. 2013	Sept. 2012	Aug. 2013	Sept. 2013	Sept. 2012	Aug. 2013	Sept. 2013
Illinois	156	163	161	165	190	175	120	140	125
Michigan	165	168	166	175	180	180	145	145	140
Minnesota	139	140	160	160	165	190	110	120	120
North Dakota	119	109	113	121	115	118	83	77	76
Ohio	191	180	163	221	195	185	142	155	140
South Dakota	204	159	128	222	166	135	151	119	105
Wisconsin	145	151	182	155	160	200	110	120	120
Average	160	153	153	174	167	169	123	125	118

The price for Michigan dairy quality hay has drifted down from the highest prices so far of the season found in spring and early summer. Small square bales are the highest price followed by large square bales and then large round Hay bales. Alfalfa grass mixed hay has continued to be under alfalfa hay in price. Grass hay prices with good quality have remained steady for most producers.

In the late summer, warm, dry weather gave producers a chance to make good quality hay and producers responded to harvest excellent quality fourth cutting. According to the Michigan Hay Sellers List sponsored by Michigan State University Extension, there is an ample supply of hay available in all categories. Buyers are encouraged to not wait to secure adequate supplies of hay for winter feed in hopes of finding a better price.

For more information, contact MSU Extension educators Phil Kaatz at 810-667-0341 or kaatz@msu.edu, or Jerry Lindquist at 231-832-6139 linquis@msu.edu.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).