NW_GR312 Des Moines, IA March 29, 2019 USDA Market News Iowa Hay Summary Week Ending Mar 29, 2019 Iowa spent the week drying up as the weather turned to warmer, windier conditions. The change in weather patterns allowed more producers to sell hay and straw to willing buyers. Bedding continues to sell for higher money. Top quality alfalfa continues to hold its own. The top dollar on lower quality hays remained but the bottom dollar reported appeared to slip lower. This lower priced bottom side is probably an indicator of a reduction in quality combined with an increase in the availablility of lower quality hay products. Alfalfa Supreme Small Squares $320.00 - $400.00 Alfalfa/Grass Premium Small Suares $220.00 - $260.00 Good Small Square $175.00 - $215.00 Large Squares $160.00 - $200.00 Small Squares $180.00 - $220.00 Grass Fair Large Squares $130.00 - $170.00 Large Round $130.00 - $165.00 Utility Large Squares $ 60.00 - $140.00 Large Rounds $ 70.00 - $115.00 Corn Stalks Large Rounds $ 70.00 - $105.00 Straw Oat Small Squares $190.00 - $220.00 Large Squares $125.00 - $130.00 Large Rounds $ 75.00 - $ 95.00 Organic Hay: Alfalfa Hay Good Large Rounds $250.00/ton ====================================================================== Table 1: Alfalfa guidelines: (for domestic livestock use and not more than 10% grass) ADF NDF *RFV **TDN-100% **TDN- CP Quality Supreme <27 <34 >185 >62 >55.9 >22 Premium 27-29 34-36 170-185 60.5-62 54.5-5 20-22 Good 29-32 36-40 150-170 58-60 52.5-5 18-20 Fair 32-35 40-44 130-150 56-58 50.5-5 16-18 Utility >35 >44 <130 <56 <50.5 <16 *RFV calculated using the Wis/Minn formula. **TDN calculated using the western formula. Quantitative factors are approximate, and many factors can affect feeding value. Values based on 100 % dry matter (TDN showing both 100% & 90%). Guidelines are to be used with visual appearance and intent of Sale (usage). ======================================================================= Table 2: Grass Hay guidelines Quality Crude Protein Percent Premium Over 13 Good 9-13 Fair 5-9 Low Under 5 Quantitative factors are approximate, and many factors can affect feeding value. Values based on 100% dry matter. End usage may influence hay price or value more than testing results. ======================================================================= Hay Quality Designations physical descriptions: Supreme: Very early maturity, pre bloom, soft fine stemmed, extra leafy. Factors indicative of very high nutritive content. Hay is excellent color and free of damage. Premium: Early maturity, i.e., pre-bloom in legumes and pre head in grass hays, extra leafy and fine stemmed-factors indicative of a high nutritive content. Hay is green and free of damage. Good: Early to average maturity, i.e., early to mid-bloom in legumes and early head in grass hays, leafy, fine to medium stemmed, free of damage other than slight discoloration. Fair: Late maturity, i.e., mid to late-bloom in legumes, head-in grass hays, moderate or below leaf content, and generally coarse stemmed. Hay may show light damage. Utility: Hay in very late maturity, such as mature seed pods in legumes or mature head in grass hays, coarse stemmed. This category could include hay discounted due to excessive damage and heavy weed content or mold. Defects will be identified in market reports when using this category. ======================================================================= Source: Source: USDA Market News Service, Des Moines, IA Nina Biensen 515-284-4460 Desm.LPGMN@ams.usda.gov 24 Hour recorded market information 515-284-4830 www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_GR312.txt www.ams.usda.gov/LPSMarketNewsPage 0900 NB