Hay Markets

Montana Hay Report

Direct Hay Weighted Average Report for week ending 4/2/2025

Compared to last report(3-20-26): Hay sold mostly steady to 15.00 higher. Hay supplies across the state have tightened significantly. Lower quality hay saw a strong uptick in price as buyers search for feed to meet needs. Hay continues to be delivered along the highline for 215.00-245.00 delivered. Spring rain and snow showers were scattered across the state over the past two weeks but moisture varied greatly by location. Hay is starting to be delivered in from North Dakota as supplies have tightened over the last few weeks. According to the drought monitor 65.58% of the state is in Moderate drought or worse, down 1.12% from 2 weeks ago. 21.19% of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, up 1.49% from 2 weeks ago. 3.96% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, unchanged from 2 weeks ago. 0% of the state is in Expectational drought, unchanged from 2 weeks ago. Notably, 93.51% of the state is abnormally dry, up 1.09% from 2 weeks ago.. 

Wyoming Hay Report

Compared to the last report, small square bales of hay sold steady. Sun-cured alfalfa pellets sold 40.00 per ton higher. Demand was moderate to good. Majority of the hay contacts are sold out and are waiting for trucks to come pick up the loads. One contact in the west does have a decent amount of small square bales of teff grass available. Water allotments are in the mind of several contacts for summer usage. Some districts have cut the days of available water down to almost nil. Many contacts assume the price of hay going into 2026 will be dollars per ton higher than current levels due to the drought in the state, lack of irrigation water and fires in surrounding states. The snotels report shows the snowpack and current levels are not real grate compared to previous years. Monday, March 30th report says the state’s SNOTELs are reading 53% of median with a basin high of 97% and a basin low of 0%. Last year the state was at 98%, and at 97% in 2024.