USDA Montana Hay                                   04/25 13:05
AMS_2769
 
Montana Direct Hay Report

                               Released on April 25, 2025
 
Direct Hay Weighted Average Report for week ending 04/25/2025
 
                                      VOLUME
                    This Week         Last Reported         Last Year
                                       (04/14/2025)
Tons:
      Hay           1920                2161                3320                
      Straw         100                                                         
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      Total         2020                2161                3320                
======================================================================

Compared to last week: Hay sold fully steady.
Producers continue to push to sell as much hay as possible as they try 
to lower supplies and reduce carryover into the next hay season.
Supplies continue to move across the state at a steady pace.
Many producers continue to have hay priced to move as they are serious 
about limiting carryover.
Larger hay sales over 500 ton continue to sell with discounts to smaller 
sales.
A few larger old crop hay sales continue to be seen, however most producers 
have sold through all of their 2023 hay and are working on 2024 
hay.
Supplies have decreased over the last few weeks.
Light to moderate supplies are being reported in most locations.
Valley rain and mountain snow continue across the state this week.
A cool or wet start to spring has limited grass growth and slowed many 
ranchers from turning out.
This has helped sell some higher quality mixed hay and grass hay as ranchers 
need quality hay to keep cows from chasing grass.
Demand for hay in the eastern portion of the state has improved in recent 
weeks as dry conditions are beginning to become worrisome for ranchers.
Some spring rains finally fell on eastern Montana this week, however 
rainfall totals were mostly light.
Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week.
According to the drought monitor 50.22% of the state is in Moderate drought 
or worse, up 12.29% from last week.
14.02% of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, 3.20% higher than 
last week.
1.72% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, unchanged from last week.
0%  of the state is in Expectational drought, unchanged from last week.
Notably, 74.90% of the state is abnormally dry, up 7.01% from last week.

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                                   N/A
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Hay Conventional
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Alfalfa Fair Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square 3x4       600       85.0    85     F.O.B.                 Old Crop
 Large Square 3x4       650   100.0-110.0 105.38 F.O.B.                         

Alfalfa Good Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Medium Square 3x3      50        130.0   130    F.O.B.     Covered     Old Crop

Alfalfa/Grass Mix Fair/Good Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Medium Square 3x3      50        150.0   150    F.O.B.-                        
                                                 Stables

Alfalfa/Grass Mix Good Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square 3x4       60        110.0   110    F.O.B.     Weedy               
 Medium Square 3x3      125       170.0   170    F.O.B.-                        
                                                 Stables

Alfalfa/Grass Mix Premium Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square 3x4       75        200.0   200    F.O.B.-                        
                                                 Stables
 Medium Square 3x3      50        215.0   215    F.O.B.-                        
                                                 Stables
 Small Square           50        250.0   250    F.O.B.-                        
                                                 Stables

Timothy Grass Good Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square 3x4       150       150.0   150    F.O.B.                         
 Large Square 3x4       60        100.0   100    F.O.B.     Bottom Bales        


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Straw Conventional
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Wheat  Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square           100       30.0    30     F.O.B.     Bottom Bales