Week of March 23, 2026

Week of March 09, 2026 · 1674 price records · 69 regions

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THE 30-SECOND VERSION

Spring is coming and the East-West price gap is still massive. Rock Valley, IA alfalfa is trading $120–145/ton. Pennsylvania is at $300–450+. Missouri's the priciest Midwest market at $162/ton. If you haven't locked in summer supply, the window is tightening.

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🌽 MIDWEST AUCTION PRICES

What hay actually sold for at auction this week:

Pipestone, MN

Alfalfa *Fair* — Large Round: $50–$95/ton (avg **$72**)

Alfalfa *Fair* — Large Round: $65–$95/ton (avg **$81**)

Alfalfa *Good* — Large Round: **$105/ton**

Alfalfa *Good* — Large Square 3x4: **$130/ton**

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: $30–$50/ton (avg **$41**)

Alfalfa/Grass Mix *Fair* — Large Round: $55–$70/ton (avg **$64**)

Alfalfa/Grass Mix *Fair* — Large Round: $70–$75/ton (avg **$72**)

Alfalfa/Grass Mix *Fair* — Large Round: **$4/ton**

Rock Valley, IA (Thu)

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$120/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$125/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: $118–$125/ton (avg **$121**)

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$115/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$122/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$135/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: $130–$138/ton (avg **$135**)

Alfalfa *Good/Premium* — Large Round: **$140/ton**

Rock Valley, IA (Mon)

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$122/ton**

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: $78–$82/ton (avg **$80**)

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: $75–$90/ton (avg **$85**)

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: **$85/ton**

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Square 3x4: **$65/ton**

Alfalfa *Utility/Fair* — Large Round: **$120/ton**

Alfalfa/Grass Mix *Utility* — Large Round: **$65/ton**

Grass *Fair/Good* — Large Round: $115–$134/ton (avg **$124**)

HPL Auction, IA

Alfalfa *Fair* — Small Square: $4–$4/ton (avg **$4**)

Alfalfa *Fair* — Small Square: **$4/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair* — Small Square: **$4/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair* — Small Square: **$6/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$102/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: **$95/ton**

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: $100–$105/ton (avg **$102**)

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: $45–$60/ton (avg **$50**)

Dakota, SD

Alfalfa *Fair* — Large Round: $90–$100/ton (avg **$94**)

Alfalfa *Fair* — Large Square 3x4: **$90/ton**

Alfalfa *Good* — Large Round: $100–$135/ton (avg **$118**)

Alfalfa *Good* — Large Round: $108–$142/ton (avg **$120**)

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: **$50/ton**

Grass *Fair* — Large Round: $68–$100/ton (avg **$82**)

Grass *Fair* — Large Round: $75–$110/ton (avg **$89**)

Grass *Good* — Large Round: $95–$125/ton (avg **$112**)

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📊 ALFALFA GOOD — LARGE ROUND BENCHMARK

The most comparable data point across markets. Use this to know if your region is cheap or expensive.

| Region | Avg Price/Ton |

|---|---|

| Madison County, IL | $32 |

| Iowa | $55 |

| Arthur, IL | $59 |

| Oklahoma - Northwest | $60 |

| Nebraska - Central | $74 |

| Nebraska - East | $80 |

| Nebraska - Platte Valley | $85 |

| Kansas | $87 |

| HPL Auction, IA | $102 |

| Kansas - Northwest | $106 |

| Pipestone, MN | $108 |

| Dakota, SD | $119 |

| Rock Valley, IA (Mon) | $122 |

| Rock Valley, IA (Thu) | $130 |

| Kansas - Southeast | $130 |

| South Dakota | $130 |

| Kansas - Southwest | $142 |

| Montana | $150 |

| Missouri | $162 |

| Oklahoma - Northeast | $187 |

| Shipshewana, IN | $228 |

| Topeka, IN | $229 |

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🗺️ NATIONAL SNAPSHOT

Where hay is most expensive this week:

| Region | Commodity | Quality | Price |

|---|---|---|---|

| Wolgemuth, PA (Mon) | Alfalfa/Grass Mix | Supreme | $457/ton |

| Wolgemuth, PA (Mon) | Grass | Premium | $430/ton |

| Wolgemuth, PA (Mon) | Alfalfa/Grass Mix | Supreme | $421/ton |

| Wolgemuth, PA (Mon) | Orchard Grass | Premium | $410/ton |

| Wolgemuth, PA (Mon) | Grass | Premium | $405/ton |

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💡 THE TAKEAWAY

The Midwest price floor held steady this week — Iowa auction alfalfa (Fair/Good, large round) in the $95–135 range, consistent with the past few weeks. No dramatic moves. The story this issue: **the East-West spread**. Wolgemuth PA premium alfalfa is pushing $330–400/ton while Kansas NW good alfalfa sits at $135. Same hay, 1,500 miles apart, 3x the price. That arbitrage doesn't close — it's just the reality of local supply and transportation costs. Know your market.

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HayWire — USDA auction data, made readable. 1674 records from 69 regions this week.

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