Hay Markets

Montana Hay Report

Hay sold 5.00-15.00 higher. Demand improved drastically over this past week as drought concerns have sparked some buying. Demand from Canadian buyers increased this week as well mostly due to drought concerns. Several loads of hay continue to sell north of the border this week. Demand for lower quality feeder hay has seen the most improvement as buyers are searching for lower cost hay as insurance for dry conditions. Several large sales of hay sold south into Wyoming as drought conditions to the south have led to buying hay for immediate use as grass has been slow to start. Supplies of hay continue to lighten and many producers went from expecting some carry over to expecting no carry over. Dry conditions are noted across the far eastern and far western portions of the state and over the last few weeks drought conditions have expanded across the highline. South central Montana is in very good position to put up a really good first crop as rainy wet conditions along with a recent warm up have been great for stands of Alfalfa. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week with very good interest seen across the state. According to the drought monitor 55.75% of the state is in Moderate drought or worse, down 1.05% from last week. 13.25% of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, unchanged from last week. 1.01% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, down 0.71% from last week. 0% of the state is in Expectational drought, unchanged from last week. Notably, 77.32% of the state is abnormally dry, up 3.7% from last week.

Wyoming Hay Report

Compared to last week, movement has been about steady. Most of the hay being sold is in small loads at a time as animals need feed waiting for grass to green up. Quite a few tons of hay left to sell in various areas of the state. According to the U.S. drought monitor website, all of Wyoming is under abnormally dry to moderately dry soil moisture with Southeast Wyoming having extreme dry soil moisture. According to the Wyoming crop progress report, as of May 4th, hay supplies were reported to be 51% adequate, pasture and range conditions are 25% good condition, winter wheat is 5% good condition, alfalfa hay is 48% good condition, other hay is 62% good condition, with barley being 80% good condition.