Vol. I · No. 34 · Tuesday, October 13, 2026
USDA AMS Wire · Free Weekly
LIVE WIRE

Hay prices, this week.

What hay is actually selling for — the national index, every reporting market, and where prices are trending. Built from USDA auction data and the auction houses USDA does not cover, updated as reports post through the week.

New to hay grades? Read the plain-language price glossary →

Why these numbers hold up

Every figure is parsed from official USDA AMS auction and direct-sale reports, plus the published results of auction houses USDA does not cover — every row names its source, and every one is an exact reported trade. No asking prices, no estimates, no interpolation. Updated as reports post, free to cite with attribution.

This week is filling in1 of ~24 typical markets have reported for the week of October 19, 2026 so far — numbers here show the completed week of October 12, 2026 and move to the new week once most markets are in.
National index
$170
$/ton, all grades
Week over week
▲ +4.7%
vs. prior week · 40 price series matched
Markets reporting
20
107 quotes this week
Observed range
$55–$435
34 weeks of history
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Hay Price Index

Weekly volume-weighted average ($/ton), verified trades. Tap a commodity to compare.

Market DriversThe fundamentals behind the index — USDA NASS · EIA. Fundamentals, not forecasts.
Supply — Hay on farms
23.3M tons
▼ down 3.3% vs a year ago
Texas 2.0M tons · South Dakota 1.9M tons · Missouri 1.6M tons
USDA NASS · as of May 1, 2026
Demand — Cattle on feed
11.16M head
▲ up 0.7% vs a year ago
USDA NASS · as of Sep 2026
Freight — On-highway diesel
U.S. $6.18/gal
▼ down $0.02 week over week
Gulf Coast (PADD 3) $5.81/gal · West Coast (PADD 5) $7.24/gal
EIA · as of Oct 12, 2026

Hay prices by state

18 states with prices in this view · shaded by average $/ton over the selected period · hover for detail, click any state for its price page or to report a sale there.

Alabama: $185/ton average, last 4 weeks, 1 markets. Click for its price page.Arizona: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: Aug 31, 2026. Click to report a sale here.Arkansas: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.California: $235/ton average, last 4 weeks, 5 markets. Click for its price page.Colorado: $218/ton average, last 4 weeks, 4 markets. Click for its price page.Connecticut: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Delaware: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.District of Columbia: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Florida: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Georgia: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Idaho: $238/ton average, last 4 weeks, 3 markets. Click for its price page.Illinois: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Indiana: $208/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.Iowa: $183/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.Kansas: $229/ton average, last 4 weeks, 6 markets. Click for its price page.Kentucky: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Louisiana: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Maine: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Maryland: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Massachusetts: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Michigan: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Minnesota: $125/ton average, last 4 weeks, 1 markets. Click for its price page.Mississippi: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Missouri: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: May 21, 2026. Click for its price page.Montana: $196/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.Nebraska: $211/ton average, last 4 weeks, 4 markets. Click for its price page.Nevada: $212/ton average, last 4 weeks, 3 markets. Click for its price page.New Hampshire: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.New Jersey: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.New Mexico: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: Aug 10, 2026. Click to report a sale here.New York: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.North Carolina: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.North Dakota: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Ohio: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Oklahoma: $149/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.Oregon: $218/ton average, last 4 weeks, 5 markets. Click for its price page.Pennsylvania: $271/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.Rhode Island: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.South Carolina: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.South Dakota: $202/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.Tennessee: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click for its price page.Texas: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: Sep 14, 2026. Click for its price page.Utah: $255/ton average, last 4 weeks, 1 markets. Click for its price page.Vermont: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Virginia: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Washington: $214/ton average, last 4 weeks, 1 markets. Click for its price page.West Virginia: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Wisconsin: no USDA sale (last 4 weeks). Last USDA report: none on file. Click to report a sale here.Wyoming: $272/ton average, last 4 weeks, 2 markets. Click for its price page.
avg $/ton≤$130$130–180$180–230$230–290>$290no report

Full state reports: California Colorado Texas Kansas Nebraska Oklahoma Missouri Iowa Idaho Montana Oregon Utah Washington South Dakota Tennessee Indiana Minnesota Alabama Pennsylvania Wyoming Nevada

Find your market all 88 quotes · every reporting USDA market, searchable and sortable
St Market Commodity Grade Avg Range WoW 12-wk
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaFair/Good$150$149–$152▲ +3.5%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaPremium/Supreme$250$240–$252▲ +18.2%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassPremium$210$195–$212▲ +4.1%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassGood/Premium$175$172–$176▲ +4.9%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfa/Grass MixFair/Good$145$145–$145▼ −6.2%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassUtility/Fair$140$140–$140▲ +12.0%
IARockValley IA ThuPrairie/Meadow GrassUtility$55$55–$55▼ −11.8%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassFair/Good$160$160–$160▲ +16.8%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfa/Grass MixGood/Premium$175$175–$175▼ −10.3%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaGood/Premium$166$166–$166▼ −5.0%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassUtility$98$98–$98▲ +30.0%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium/Supreme$200$200–$200▲ +2.6%
IDIdaho - EastAlfalfaPremium$226$226–$226— 0.0%
IDIdaho - EastAlfalfaSupreme$250$250–$250— 0.0%
IDIdaho - EastForage Mix-Three WayGood$155$155–$155— 0.0%
IDIdaho - SouthAlfalfaPremium$225$225–$225— 0.0%
IDIdaho - SoutheastAlfalfaGood$220$220–$220— 0.0%
IDIdaho - SoutheastAlfalfaPremium$250$250–$250— 0.0%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixFair/Good$170$170–$170▼ −4.5%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$227$227–$227▲ +5.3%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood/Premium$260$260–$260— 0.0%
INShipshewana INClover/Grass MixGood$230$230–$230▲ +27.8%
INShipshewana INMixed GrassGood$213$213–$213▼ −12.9%
INShipshewana INMixed GrassGood/Premium$257$257–$257▼ −14.4%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium$320$320–$320▼ −13.5%
INTopeka INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$219$217–$240▼ −3.9%
INTopeka INMixed GrassGood$219$210–$230▲ +4.1%
INTopeka INMixed GrassFair/Good$168$168–$168▼ −11.8%
INTopeka INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood/Premium$250$250–$250▼ −12.0%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfaFair$145$145–$145▲ +11.8%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfaGood$260$260–$260▲ +64.7%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfa/Grass MixFair$97$97–$97▲ +1.8%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$220$220–$220▲ +37.4%
MNPipestone MNGrassFair$127$127–$127▲ +18.0%
MNPipestone MNGrassGood$182$182–$182▲ +24.9%
MNPipestone MNGrassUtility$65$65–$65▲ +30.0%
MTMontanaAlfalfaFair$220$220–$220▼ −6.4%
MTMontanaAlfalfaFair/Good$225$225–$225▼ −9.7%
MTMontanaAlfalfaGood$240$240–$240▲ +6.7%
MTMontanaGrassFair/Good$200$200–$200——
MTMontana - NorthAlfalfaFair$165$165–$165▲ +3.1%
MTMontana - NorthAlfalfa/Grass MixUtility/Fair$160$160–$160——
NVNevada - CentralAlfalfaPremium$237$237–$237▲ +0.4%
NVNevada - EastAlfalfaPremium$230$230–$230— 0.0%
NVNevada - EastAlfalfaSupreme$210$210–$210— 0.0%
NVNevada - EastForage Mix-Three WayPremium$190$190–$190— 0.0%
OKOklahoma - CentralAlfalfaGood$225$225–$225▲ +12.5%
OKOklahoma - NorthwestAlfalfaPremium/Supreme$240$240–$240— 0.0%
OKOklahoma - NorthwestMixed GrassGood/Premium$60$60–$60— 0.0%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium$351$320–$353▲ +3.8%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfa/Grass MixSupreme$434$433–$435▲ +2.2%
PAWolgemuth PA MonGrassPremium$307$300–$353▼ −4.2%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$285$285–$285▲ +6.4%
PAWolgemuth PA MonGrassGood$236$236–$236▼ −6.6%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard GrassPremium$307$307–$307▼ −4.0%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard/Timothy GrassPremium$320$320–$320▼ −1.5%
PAWolgemuth PA MonTimothy GrassPremium$330$330–$330— 0.0%
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfaGood$253$253–$253▲ +10.0%
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfa/Bluegrass MixGood$250$250–$250——
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$229$229–$229▼ −10.1%
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium$310$310–$310▼ −4.6%
PAWolgemuth PA WedTimothy GrassGood$285$285–$285▲ +16.3%
PAWolgemuth PA WedGrassGood$247$247–$247▲ +3.9%
PAWolgemuth PA WedGrassPremium$322$322–$322▲ +4.0%
PAWolgemuth PA WedOrchard GrassFair$190$190–$190▲ +43.0%
PAWolgemuth PA WedOrchard GrassGood$262$262–$262▲ +2.8%
PAWolgemuth PA WedOrchard GrassPremium$320$320–$320▲ +3.6%
SDDakota SD MonAlfalfaGood$235$235–$235▲ +4.1%
SDDakota SD MonAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$190$190–$190▼ −5.0%
SDDakota SD MonGrassFair$149$149–$149▲ +15.2%
SDDakota SD MonGrassGood$196$196–$196▲ +1.6%
SDSouth DakotaAlfalfaPremium$232$210–$250▲ +10.6%
SDSouth DakotaAlfalfaFair$180$180–$180— 0.0%
SDSouth DakotaAlfalfaGood/Premium$200$200–$200— 0.0%
SDSouth DakotaAlfalfaSupreme$300$300–$300▲ +29.6%
SDSouth DakotaGrassGood$175$175–$175— 0.0%
SDSouth DakotaGrassPremium$200$200–$200— 0.0%
WAWashington OregonAlfalfaGood/Premium$254$235–$300▼ −14.6%
WAWashington OregonAlfalfaUtility/Fair$190$185–$200▼ −15.4%
WAWashington OregonAlfalfaSupreme$240$240–$240——
WAWashington OregonTimothy GrassGood/Premium$250$250–$250▼ −16.7%
WAWashington OregonTimothy GrassUtility/Fair$140$140–$140▼ −12.5%
WYWyoming - EastAlfalfaGood$281$281–$281— 0.0%
WYWyoming - EastMillet—$212$212–$212— 0.0%
WYWyoming - WestAlfalfaGood/Premium$309$280–$350— 0.0%
WYWyoming - WestTeffGood/Premium$330$300–$350— 0.0%
WYWyoming - WestAlfalfa/Orchard MixPremium$275$265–$285— 0.0%
WYWyoming - WestSudan—$240$240–$240— 0.0%

88 quotes this week · tap a header to sort · asking prices excluded.

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Type the price you were quoted per ton and pick the hay. We set it against HayWire's index for that hay and the sales USDA markets reported over the last month.

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About this data

Prices come from USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News auction and direct-sale reports, plus the self-published results of auctions USDA stopped reporting (Centennial Livestock, Fort Collins CO; Producers Livestock, Greeley CO) — every row carries its source. We keep verified trades (excluding asking prices and weight-estimated per-bale conversions) up to a $600/ton ceiling that screens out gross data errors, aggregate by ISO week, and volume-weight by reported load count. Weeks with no observations are omitted, never interpolated. Sources: USDA AMS Market News, Centennial Livestock, Producers Livestock. New to hay pricing? Read why hay prices move — the six forces behind the number. Prices readers paid in private sales, which USDA never sees, are collected separately: From the Field.

What is the average price of hay right now?

For the week of October 12, 2026, the HayWire national hay price index is $170 per ton (up 4.7% week over week), based on 107 auction observations across 20 reporting markets. Observed prices ranged from $55 to $435 per ton depending on commodity, grade, and region.

Why do hay prices vary so much between regions?

Hay is bulky and expensive to haul relative to its value, so it trades in local markets rather than at one national price. Drought, freight, and local supply can push neighboring regions tens or hundreds of dollars per ton apart.

How often are hay prices updated?

As USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports post: the main weekly rebuild lands Monday, and the page republishes again as Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday auction and direct-sale reports come in. The index, table, and chart on this page rebuild from that fresh data automatically.

What is the difference between free and Pro data?

All current and recent prices (about 12 weeks), the index chart, the state pages and the full market table are free and shown here. HayWire Pro adds the Friday Pulse and The Call before Monday's auctions, a dashboard that checks your loads and quotes against the market, the week's table as a CSV, and a direct line for market questions.

Where does HayWire's hay price data come from?

USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News auction and direct-sale reports, plus the self-published results of auctions USDA stopped reporting (Centennial Livestock in Fort Collins and Producers Livestock in Greeley, Colorado). Every row names its source. All of it is filtered to verified trades (asking prices and weight-estimated conversions are excluded) and aggregated by ISO week, volume-weighted by reported load count.

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