Week of March 30, 2026

Week of March 23, 2026 · 1,928 price records · 69 regions

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THE 30-SECOND VERSION

Spring is the most important time to know what hay is worth — and right now the Midwest is sending mixed signals. Rock Valley IA is holding firm at **$129/ton** for good alfalfa. Pipestone MN is $20 cheaper at **$109/ton**. Indiana markets are running **$225–229/ton** — nearly double the Midwest average — signaling tight horse hay supply up there. And for the first time, we're including reader-reported prices straight from the field. Iowa farmers shared real sale prices this week: dairy squares in Dyersville went for **$250–270/ton**. That's a number you won't find in any USDA report.

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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: $60–$105/ton (avg **$77**)

Alfalfa *Good* — Large Round: $105–$125/ton (avg **$113**)

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**)

Rock Valley, IA

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: $115–$138/ton (avg **$124**)

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

Alfalfa *Utility* — Large Round: $75–$90/ton (avg **$83**)

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

HPL Auction, IA

Alfalfa *Fair/Good* — Large Round: $95–$105/ton (avg **$100**)

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

Dakota, SD

Alfalfa *Fair* — Large Round: $85–$100/ton (avg **$92**)

Alfalfa *Good* — Large Round: $95–$155/ton (avg **$117**)

Alfalfa/Grass Mix *Good* — Large Round: **$120/ton**

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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 right now.

| Region | Avg $/Ton |

|---|---|

| Madison County, IL | $36 |

| Iowa (statewide) | $55 |

| Arthur, IL | $59 |

| Oklahoma - Northwest | $60 |

| Nebraska - East | $80 |

| Nebraska - Central | $82 |

| Nebraska - Platte Valley | $85 |

| Kansas | $87 |

| HPL Auction, IA | $102 |

| Pipestone, MN | $109 |

| Dakota, SD | $118 |

| Rock Valley, IA | $129 |

| Kansas - Southwest | $142 |

| Montana | $150 |

| Missouri | $162 |

| Oklahoma - Northeast | $183 |

| Shipshewana, IN | $227 |

| Topeka, IN | $229 |

Indiana at $227–229/ton stands out. That's not a typo — horse hay demand in northern Indiana is pulling prices nearly double what Rock Valley commands for the same quality. If you're a seller near Indiana, you're leaving money on the table selling locally.

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🌾 FROM THE FIELD — Reader-Reported Prices

These came in from farmers commenting on our Reddit post this week. This is the stuff that doesn't show up in USDA reports.

**Dyersville, IA** — Dairy quality large squares sold for **$250–270/ton** (week of 3/18)

**Keosauqua, IA** — Large rounds $20–55/bale, large squares $45–65/bale (week of 3/14)

**Kalona, IA** — Large rounds up to $65/bale, large squares $15–90/bale (week of 3/12)

The Dyersville number is the one to watch. $250–270/ton for dairy-quality squares in east Iowa while Rock Valley good alfalfa is $129/ton in northwest Iowa. Same state. Same week. $120+/ton difference depending on where you are and what quality you're moving.

Have prices to share? Reply to this email or drop them in the comments on our Reddit post — we'll include them next week.

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🗺️ NATIONAL SNAPSHOT — Where Hay Is Most Expensive

| Region | Type | Quality | $/Ton |

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

| Wolgemuth, PA | Alfalfa/Grass Mix | Supreme | $457 |

| Wolgemuth, PA | Grass | Premium | $430 |

| Wolgemuth, PA | Orchard Grass | Premium | $410 |

| Shipshewana, IN | Alfalfa | Good | $229 |

| Topeka, IN | Alfalfa | Good | $227 |

Pennsylvania continues to be its own universe. $457/ton for supreme alfalfa/grass mix — nearly 4x what the Midwest pays. Eastern seaboard horse country drives those prices and they don't come down.

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💡 THIS WEEK'S INSIGHT

The geography gap is widening.

Rock Valley IA at $129/ton. Madison County IL at $36/ton. Indiana at $229/ton. These aren't different markets in different years — this is the same week, same country, same commodity.

The practical takeaway: if you're buying hay, your location determines your price more than any other factor. A buyer in Indiana paying $229/ton is 90 miles from someone paying $129/ton at Rock Valley. That $100/ton gap on a 100-ton order is $10,000.

And Missouri at $162/ton is worth watching. It sits between the Midwest ($129) and the East ($400+) and when Missouri moves, Iowa and SD tend to follow within 2–3 weeks.

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P.S. — Quick question: are you buying hay, selling it, or just tracking prices? Hit reply and tell me — one line is fine. It helps me make this more useful for you.

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HayWire — USDA auction data, made readable. 1,928 records from 69 regions this week.

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