Hay demand stayed strong across Kansas for the week ended September 26, as declining in-state inventories and active shipments to more severe drought states tightened supplies in some areas, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture-USDA Market News Service.

Much of Kansas took on beneficial moisture over the week, with additional precipitation in the forecast — a condition report, not a harvested result, and one that could still shape fourth-cutting supplies and feedlot demand heading into winter feeding.

Traders moved sizable volumes of grinding alfalfa. In the week of September 20-26, reported transactions included 7,045 tons of grinding alfalfa in the Southwest district, 7,929 tons in South Central, 325 tons in the Southeast, and 782 tons in North Central/Northeast. Buyers and sellers should treat these as reported volumes within the survey's reporting window, not a full accounting of state trade.

Southwest posted moderate to good demand and moderate trade. Dairy alfalfa held at $1.10-$1.20 per point RFV. Good stock cow alfalfa fetched $265-$275, the highest cow-hay range in the state. Fair/good grinding alfalfa in large round and large square 3x4 formats traded at $240-$250, with ground and delivered product to feedlots and dairies at $255-$265. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets, 15% and 17% protein, brought $280-$290. Grass hay activity was thin: no bluestem or brome sales were reported. Teff in large rounds made $195-$205, and wheat straw delivered in rounds brought $145-$155, with small squares at $5 per bale. Dairy alfalfa volume reported in the region was zero.

South Central saw dairy alfalfa and grass hay steady, but grinding alfalfa shed $5. Dairy alfalfa traded at $1.10-$1.15 per point RFV; horse hay in small squares brought $18 per bale, the top per-bale price in the report. Good stock cow hay ranged $225-$235. Fair/good grinding alfalfa brought $180-$200 in large rounds and $230-$240 in large squares. Ground and delivered alfalfa made $250-$260. Pellets split sharply by process: sun-cured 15% protein at $280-$290 versus $355 for 17% dehydrated. Bluestem ranged from $95-$105 in large squares to $145-$155 in large rounds. Brome brought $175-$185 in large squares and $220-$230 in medium 3x3s. Reported week volumes: 7,929 tons grinding alfalfa, 198 tons dairy alfalfa, 421 tons grass hay.

Southeast demand ran moderate to good with slow to moderate trade. Dairy alfalfa and brome held steady; prairie hay dropped $5. Dairy alfalfa commanded the state's top RFV range at $1.20-$1.30 per point. Fair/good grinding alfalfa in large squares brought $195-$205. Bluestem large rounds made $95-$105, well below the Southwest's absent quote and South Central's round bale range. Wheat straw rounds sold at $70-$80. Volumes reported: 1,762 tons grass hay, 325 tons grinding alfalfa, 175 tons dairy alfalfa.

Northwest reported moderate to good demand with slow to moderate activity and no volume figures. Dairy alfalfa held at $1.10-$1.20 per point RFV. Premium/Supreme large squares 3x4 made $220-$230. Fair/good grinding alfalfa in the same format brought $205-$215.

North Central/Northeast demand ran moderate with slow to moderate trade. Dairy alfalfa and grass hay held steady; prairie hay lost $5. Dairy alfalfa traded at $1.20-$1.30 per point RFV. Fair/good grinding alfalfa large squares made $195-$205, with ground and delivered product at $185-$195 — roughly $65-$75 below delivered quotes in the state's southern districts, a spread buyers with trucking capacity may find worth pricing. Bluestem large rounds brought $90-$100. Wheat straw ranged $65-$75 in rounds to $115-$125 in large squares. Reported volumes: 782 tons grinding alfalfa, 300 tons dairy alfalfa, 1,038 tons grass hay.

The report notes published figures are averages; actual transactions occurred both above and below these ranges. All figures are condition-and-transaction reports gathered through USDA's market news survey, distinct from season-end harvested results.

With hay inventories still drawing down and out-of-state drought demand active, Kansas growers with remaining tonnage — particularly grinding alfalfa and stock cow quality — hold pricing leverage as long as shipments to drier states continue.