AM_GR310
Amarillo, TX         Fri  Feb 13, 2009       USDA-TX Dept of Ag Market News

Weekly Texas Hay Report

   Compared to last week: Chopped alfalfa and large bales weaker with Chopped 
Alfalfa as much as 5.00-10.00 lower. Sellers finding price resistance as buyers 
continue to look and find alternative roughage sources.  Feedlots and Dairies 
trying to cheapen-up rations as fed cattle and milk prices move lower.    
Sellers continue to try to move inventories of old crop in order to make room 
for new crop. Drought conditions in most areas have depleted hay stocks 
especially large rounds of grass hays.  Livestock producers in severe drought 
areas have been forced to go out of normal marketing areas or out of the state 
to find hay needs. Many feedlots and dairy farms continue to contract hay and 
corn silage for next year. The state of Texas Department of agriculture has the 
Hay and Grazing Hot Line set up for buyers and sellers, number is 1-877-429-
1998.  The web site for TDA is www.tda.state.tx.us.  Prices for hay and pellets 
quoted per ton except where noted.  

Panhandle:
   Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 250.00-300.00, 
8.00-10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 200.00-250.00, 7.00-8.00 per bale.  
Large Squares: Delivered: Supreme to Premium quality 200.00-250.00; Good to 
Premium quality 190.00-200.00; Good quality 180.00-190.00; Fair to Good quality 
160.00-180.00.
   Chopped Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: North: 175.00-180.00.  South: 175.00-
185.00, instances 190.00.
   Milo Hay: Ground and Delivered: 100.00. 
   Wheat Hay: Large rounds: Delivered: Good quality 110.00.
   Sorghum  Hay: Large rounds: Delivered: 80.00.
   Prairie grass hay: FOB: large rounds: 105.00-110.00.
   Haygrazer: Delivered: large rounds 125.00-135.00. 
   Coastal Bermuda: Delivered: large rounds 120.00.

West Texas: 
   Alfalfa: Small Squares: FOB: Premium to Supreme quality 240.00-300.00, 8.00-
10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 200.00-240.00; 7.00-8.00 per bale.  
Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 225.00-250.00; Good to 
Premium quality 190.00-225.00; Good quality 160.00-190.00.
   
North, Central and East Texas:
   Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme quality 250.00-300.00, 
8.00-10.00 per bale; Good to Premium quality 7.00-8.00 per bale.  FOB: Good to 
Premium quality 5.00-7.00 per bale in the barn.  Large Squares: Delivered: 
Premium to Supreme quality 200.00-250.00; Good to Premium quality 190.00-200.00; 
Good quality 180.00-190.00. 
   Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium quality 6.00-8.00 per 
bale; Fair quality 5.00-6.00 per bale.  Large rounds: FOB: Premium 70.00-80.00; 
Good quality 50.00-70.00; Fair quality 40.00-50.00 per roll.  

South Texas:
   Coastal Bermuda: Small squares: FOB or delivered locally: Good to Premium 
quality 6.00-7.50; Fair quality 5.00-6.00 per bale.  Large rounds: FOB: Premium 
quality 70.00-85.00; Good quality 50.00-70.00; Poor quality 30.00-40.00 per 
roll.

  Detailed Quotations - Texas 
Alfalfa         Panhandle         West          N.C./East         South
 Small squares
  Supreme/Del 250.00-300.00                   250.00-300.00                         
  Premium/Del 250.00-300.00                   250.00-300.00                         
  Good/Del    200.00-250.00                                             
  Supreme/FOB                 250.00-300.00                   
  Premium/FOB                 250.00-300.00                 
  Good/FOB                    200.00-230.00                  
Large squares
  Supreme/Del 200.00-250.00   200.00-250.00   200.00-250.00
  Premium/Del 200.00-250.00   200.00-250.00   200.00-250.00
  Good/Del    190.00-200.00   190.00-200.00   190.00-200.00
  Fair/Del                                                 
  Supreme/FOB                               
  Premium/FOB                                          
  Good/FOB                                              
Large rounds      
  Premium/Del          
  Good/Del                  
Chopped/Del   175.00-190.00  
Grass Hay
 Small squares
  Premium/Del                                             
  Good/Del    
  Fair/Del                  
  Premium/FOB                                                                
  Good/FOB                                                                  
 Large squares
  Good/Del                 
 Large rounds
  Good/Del                                                 
  Good/FOB                                                       

Table 1: Alfalfa guidelines (for domestic livestock use and not more than 
                                10% grass)
Quality       ADF     NDF     *RFV     **TDN-100%     **TDN-90%     CP
Supreme       <27     <34     >185        >62           >55.9      >22
Premium      27-29   34-36   170-185    60.5-62       54.5-55.9   20-22
Good         29-32   36-40   150-170      58-60       52.5-54.5   18-20
Fair         32-35   40-44   130-150      56-58       50.5-52.5   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
Utility            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 Designation's 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:  USDA-Texas Dept of Ag Market News, Amarillo, TX
         806/372-6361 - email: amarillo.lgmn@usda.gov
         www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/am_gr310.txt

1200c    ktg efc




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