SE Colorado Hay Price Primer
Captured: 2026-04-18. Re-run scripts for fresh numbers.
Bale sizes
Commercial large-square formats:
| Nickname | Dimensions | Typical alfalfa weight |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-square / "3-string equivalent" | 3x3x8 | 750–900 lb |
| Large square | 3x4x8 | 1,000–1,400 lb |
| "Very large" / big square | 4x4x8 | 1,500–1,800 lb |
In SE Colorado (Lamar, Las Animas, Rocky Ford, La Junta), the dominant commercial formats are 3x4x8 and 4x4x8 — 3x3 is less common in export/feedlot trade.
$/bale → $/ton conversion
$/ton = $/bale ÷ (bale weight in lb ÷ 2,000). Bale weight matters a lot: a 200-lb swing on a 4x4x8 moves $/ton by roughly 12%. Example at $200/bale:
| Bale weight | $200/bale → $/ton |
|---|---|
| 3x4x8 @ 1,200 lb | $333 |
| 4x4x8 @ 1,600 lb | $250 |
| 4x4x8 @ 1,750 lb | $229 |
| 4x4x8 @ 1,800 lb | $222 |
Always confirm bale weight (ideally scale-verified) before comparing a per-bale price with USDA per-ton quotes.
Current USDA market (April 2026)
USDA AMS Colorado Direct Hay Report (report 2905), most recent at time of writing, April 9, 2026:
- Premium large-square alfalfa: ~$180–$200/ton
- Good large-square alfalfa: ~$140–$160/ton
- Fair large-square alfalfa: ~$125–$140/ton
- Grinder alfalfa (3x4, FOB): historically ~$150/ton
- Grinder alfalfa (4x4, delivered): ~$115/ton
- Market tone: "Trade light on moderate to good demand; prices mostly steady on horse hay trades." Feedlot/dairy demand noted as firming.
Retail horse hay statewide (February 2026 reporting): $220–$260/ton — not directly comparable since retail adds markup and storage, but bounds the upper end.
Historical context — was fall 2025 really cheaper?
- National all-hay average price fell from ~$288/ton (April 2023) → $164/ton (November 2024) → ~$171/ton average in 2025.
- Alfalfa peaked May 2025 at $191/ton, dipped to $166/ton in August 2025.
- Western alfalfa 2025 average: $180/ton (down $5 from 2024).
- 2025 had a wet spring and adequate summer rain across much of the West, producing good first cuttings and filling inventory; fall 2025 was the softest part of the curve.
The 2026 turn:
- Arkansas Basin snowpack 11% of median (late March 2026).
- <50% of average forecast runoff at most sites.
- Gov. Polis activated Drought Task Force on 2026-03-16.
- Market is now re-pricing upward.
Key price drivers (SE Colorado specifically)
- Arkansas River water supply — direct hit to local hay yield.
- Drought / Palmer index — 31%+ of CO in severe drought, vs 7% a year ago.
- Export demand — weak (China demand down sharply) — the one counterweight.
- Regional pull — TX Panhandle and NM dairies are the natural buyers via I-70 / US-50 / US-287.
- Alfalfa vs. grass premium — grass typically $20–$40/ton below Premium alfalfa.
- Cutting quality — Supreme (<27 ADF) commands $40–$60/ton over Good.
Crawlable data sources
- Direct PDF (always latest): https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2905.pdf
- HTML viewer: https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/viewReport/2905
- Legacy text (may be stale): https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/gl_gr310.txt
- Brush CO monthly auction: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3627.pdf
- Fort Collins Centennial auction: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3679.pdf
- MMN API (recommended): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/mymarketnews-api — free API key, slug_id=2905
- USDA/Cornell archive: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/r207tp37s
- State-by-state roundups: https://hpj.com/category/markets/hay/ and https://hayandforage.com/articles.sec-7-1-Markets.html
Caveats
- The legacy
gl_gr310.txtURL has returned stale 2020 content in caches — always cross-check the PDF's dateline. - Prices change fast. Re-run
scripts/fetch_hay_report.shbefore relying on these numbers.