● Market Report · SEPTEMBER 14, 2026
Dakota up $11/ton to $241 on heavier volume
HayWire · Week of September 14, 2026 · USDA AMS · 125 verified trades · 23 markets
§01 The 60-Second Read
Dakota, SD ran $241/ton on Monday, up $11 on 192 tons this week vs 145 last week, while the national index eased to $170/ton, down 1.7 percent. That split favors sellers in the northern trade and buyers most everywhere else. Good alfalfa averaged $202/ton across four markets, up $9.
§02 By the Numbers
National index $170/ton ▼ 1.7% week over week · 23 markets |
Top mover $241 Dakota SD Mon · ▲ 4.6% · on 192 tons this week vs 145 last week |
Geography spread $95/ton Montana $250 → Pipestone MN $155 |
Good alfalfa · 4 auctions $202/ton ▲ 4.5% / $9 week over week |
§03 Watch List
| 01 | Montana at the top Montana held the high end at $250/ton. Watch whether very good demand against moderate supply keeps it there next week. |
| 02 | Rock Valley, IA Thursday Rock Valley printed $163/ton. Next Thursday's sale tells you whether Iowa follows the Dakota jump or stays put. |
| 03 | Diesel near $6.29 Diesel rose $0.32 week over week. Another move up shows in delivered quotes before it shows in barn prices. |
§04 The Read
Strength is regional, not general. The northern markets carried real volume behind their gains, while the index slipped and the wide spread between the high and low markets tells you the middle is uneven. Cattle on feed at 11.16M head, up 0.7 percent, keeps a demand floor under the whole thing, so this looks like sorting rather than softening.
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