Hay Trade Very Light Last Week

Not much movement at all last week in the region’s hay market, USDA Market Reporter Robert Eaton shares more
Eaton: “Trade and hay sales for this week was slow to virtually inactive with very light demand. Prices in Washington remained steady while prices in Idaho were $15 to $20 a ton lower in limited test of the market. Trade is slow now because buyers are waiting to see how several factors will impact the market before making a purchase. The recent discovery of GMO alfalfa {exported hay} in China with subsequent additional regulations and requirements is still being hashed out and has slowed exports significantly. And has had a fairly big impact on domestic market as well for the time being. And that coupled with the lower grain prices even with the marginal jump this week in grain this week — have caused may of the domestic purchasers — particularly dairies — to wait and see where prices are heading in the next several weeks before making purchase. A lot of them have stocked up to some degree and want to see where it is going. So there really isn’t a lot of movement in the market right now.”
Eaton said that many Eastern Washington hay growers are just starting their third cutting and in Idaho depending on location are looking at either their second or third cutting. There has been considerable rain in parts of southern Idaho.