Hay Market Reports

I bring up this illustration every year, but your perception of forage conditions and markets is probably a lot like the parable of the blind men and the elephant: it depends on where you are standing. Here’s a description of factors affecting hay markets as we approach the middle of July.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include updated U.S. hay export data.

The transition to summer generally sets the stage for what’s to come in the year ahead regarding hay markets, and 2021 is no different.

Spring is off to a fast start, with the planting pace of most crops well ahead of the five-year average in many parts of the country. Climbing corn and soybean futures prices are still impacting final planting decisions. Perhaps the brightest news concerned exports.

It’s the time of year that the hay market focus turns to anticipation of new crops. Here’s a look at some of the conditions affecting domestic and export hay markets during the second week of April.

Weather and transportation continue to be two dominant topics as we march into a new growing season. Here’s a look at some of the conditions affecting domestic and export hay markets.

After a mild start, winter finally arrived about the time groundhogs were poking their heads out of holes in search of an early spring. What they saw were lots of roughage-consuming animals to feed.