Week of March 2, 2026 · 1,181 price records · 68 regions
THE 30-SECOND VERSION
Midwest alfalfa is holding steady — good-quality large rounds are trading $105–$128/ton across MN, IA, and SD auction markets this week, with no major swings from last week. The story this issue is the spread: that same good alfalfa is going for $228/ton in Indiana and $405/ton (premium grass) in Pennsylvania. If you're in the Midwest, you're buying at a significant discount to the rest of the country. If you're selling and can move hay east, there's margin sitting on the table.
🌽 MIDWEST AUCTION PRICES
What hay actually sold for at auction this week:
Pipestone, MN
Rock Valley, IA
HPL Auction, IA
Dakota, SD
South Dakota (state-wide)
📊 ALFALFA GOOD — LARGE ROUND BENCHMARK
The most comparable price point across all markets. Use this to know if your region is cheap or expensive relative to the rest of the country.
| Region | Avg Price/Ton |
|---|---|
| Madison County, IL | $28 |
| Iowa (state avg) | $55 |
| Oklahoma - Northwest | $60 |
| Arthur, IL | $65 |
| Nebraska - Central | $74 |
| Nebraska - East | $80 |
| Nebraska - Platte Valley | $85 |
| Kansas | $88 |
| HPL Auction, IA | $102 |
| Kansas - Northwest | $104 |
| Pipestone, MN | $108 |
| Dakota, SD | $118 |
| Rock Valley, IA | $128 |
| South Dakota | $130 |
| Kansas - Southwest | $135 |
| Kansas - Southeast | $160 |
| Missouri | $162 |
| Oklahoma - Northeast | $205 |
| Shipshewana, IN | $228 |
| Topeka, IN | $229 |
Bolded = Midwest auction markets covered in detail above.
🗺️ NATIONAL SNAPSHOT
Where hay is trading highest this week:
| Region | Commodity | Quality | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolgemuth, PA | Grass | Premium | $405/ton |
| Wolgemuth, PA | Alfalfa/Grass Mix | Premium | $400/ton |
| Wolgemuth, PA | Alfalfa/Grass Mix | Premium | $370/ton |
| Topeka, IN | Alfalfa/Grass Mix | Premium | $350/ton |
| Shipshewana, IN | Mixed Grass | Good | $232/ton |
Pennsylvania is consistently the most expensive hay market in the country. Dense horse population, limited local production, and buyers who pay for quality. Worth watching as a long-term pricing benchmark.
💡 THE TAKEAWAY
The Midwest is a buyer's market right now — $105–$130/ton for good alfalfa is competitive with where prices have been the past several weeks, and supply at auction looks adequate heading into March. No shortage panic, no fire-sale either.
Two things worth watching heading into spring:
1. South Dakota Supreme at $275/ton — when top-quality alfalfa in SD is 2.5x the price of Good-quality, it tells you quality premiums are real. If you're feeding performance animals (dairy, horses), don't cheap out on quality and pay for it in performance.
2. The Indiana/PA premium — Shipshewana and Topeka, IN are consistently $100–$120/ton above Midwest auction markets for comparable quality. If you're within trucking distance of the Great Lakes, that spread might be worth a conversation with a broker.
Know someone who buys or sells hay?
Forward this — it's free and takes 2 seconds.
→ Subscribe at haywireag.com
HayWire — USDA auction data, made readable. 1,181 records from 68 regions this week.
Unsubscribe anytime.