 | FREE · Issue 35 |
| Morning. Here’s what hay did last week, in about three minutes. Alfalfa climbs 14.8%, lifting the national indexWeek of October 12, 2026 · USDA AMS · 107 verified trades · 20 markets The national index rose 4.7 percent to $170/ton, and alfalfa did the lifting: it averaged $168/ton, up 14.8 percent. That favors sellers. Dakota, SD brought $235/ton, up $9, on about the same volume as last week (65 vs 70 tons), so the higher price there rests on steady tonnage. | The board | National index 20 markets | $170 | ▲ 4.7% | | Good alfalfa 5 auctions | $214 | ▲ $22 | | Alfalfa | $168 | ▲ 14.8% | | Mixed Grass | $178 | ▼ 12.9% | | Top mover Dakota, SD Good alfalfa, on about the same volume as last week (65 vs 70 tons) | $235 | ▲ 4.1% | | Spread, high to low Pipestone, MN $260 to Rock Valley, IA $149 | $111 | | | Diesel, per gallon | $6.18 | flat |
Hay prices: ▼ good for buyers · ▲ good for sellers | State of the week Nebraska | Good alfalfa 16 trades, last 60 days | $200/ton | | Good/premium alfalfa 11 trades, last 60 days | $266/ton | | Good grass 6 trades, last 60 days | $150/ton |
Nebraska’s full page → | Every state’s prices Tap your state for its markets, prices and trend. | Last week we said watch… | Crop Progress, Tuesday, October 13. Our numbers carry no pasture ratings this week, so we can't yet check them against the grass prices. | | Orchard Grass at $139. Orchard Grass slipped to $138, down 0.7 percent, but Mixed Grass fell harder, so no grass type drew a premium. | | Bluestem Grass at $125. Bluestem Grass held steady at $124, down 0.4 percent, while plain Grass rose 10.5 percent to $108. |
| What we’re watching this week | 1 | Milk Production, Thursday, October 22. Dairies are the main buyers of top-grade alfalfa. Strong output would help explain why better alfalfa found buyers at these prices. | | 2 | Cattle on Feed, Friday, October 23. The monthly feedlot count. A firmer number would back the hay demand from feeders heading into winter. | | 3 | Grass at $108. Plain Grass rose while Mixed Grass fell. If it holds next week, the grass side has support that isn't tied to one hay type. |
| The Read Alfalfa firmed, and the better hay led it. Mixed Grass gave back most of the prior week's jump, so the grass side is uneven. Dakota, SD keeps bringing more money on fewer tons than it reported in late summer, which looks like offerings thinning. | Advertise This slot is open. It reaches hay buyers and sellers across the 20 USDA markets reporting this week, in the issue every Tuesday and on the site. Reserve it → | The Call · graded in public 7 of 14 graded Calls
were right. ■ right · □ wrong · misses included Latest Call: STEADY. Which markets to hold in, and the price levels we’re graded on, are in Pro. Call #28 (Sep 18) graded wrong. Inside Pro: the Friday Pulse, a separate read for buyers and sellers, and The Call — our buy / wait / hold verdict with the reasoning behind it. | See you next Tuesday. HayWire P.S. Know someone who buys or sells hay? Forward this. Three sign-ups through your link and you get one month of HayWire Pro, free. Paid a price nobody published? Report it and once we’ve checked it, it runs in a future issue, credited to your region, never your name. | HayWire Ag LLC · Src: USDA AMS · haywireag.com 107 verified trades this week · For informational purposes only Unsubscribe · Track record |
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