High hay prices in Nebraska, Iowa
9/20/2022 1:06:46 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
Iowa
Sioux County, IA
Rock Valley, IA
Nebraska
Custer County, NE
Broken Bow, NE
Start Date: 7/15/2022
- End Date: 9/19/2022
Heat and drought limited forage production in Nebraska and other drought-stricken areas, forcing cattle producers to weigh hay supplies against herd size for the winter. Many growers chopped drought-damaged crops for silage.
Hay prices were much higher than last year. In central Nebraska, hay prices have increased about $40 to $50 per ton. In the Rock Valley, Iowa area, hay buyers were “very aggressive” in their hay purchases this summer, according to an auction owner. The demand has driven forage prices higher as buyers look to stock up on hay to get through the winter. At the Sept. 8 auction in northwest Iowa, alfalfa prices ranged from $215/ton to $300/ton with the mean being around $250/ton. Grass hay sold from $80/ton to $230/ton with the middle being around $165/ton.
Drought severely cut into hay production in Nebraska. The Cornhusker state’s 2022 hay production was estimated at 4.83 million tons, 23.2% lower than the 2021 growing season. Total hay supply in 2022 is forecast to be 6.08 million tons, which is 16.6% lower than the previous year.
DTN – Progressive Farmer (Burnsville, Minn.), Sept 19, 2022
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