Vol. I · No. 28 · Tuesday, September 1, 2026
USDA AMS Wire · Free Weekly
LIVE WIRE
Alfalfa · $178/ton ▼ −1.8%Alfalfa/Grass Mix · $314/ton ▼ −5.7%Grass · $105/ton ▲ +0.7%Bluestem Grass · $123/ton ▲ +15.8%Mixed Grass · $172/ton ▼ −7.6%Orchard Grass · $163/ton ▼ −14.8%Alfalfa · $178/ton ▼ −1.8%Alfalfa/Grass Mix · $314/ton ▼ −5.7%Grass · $105/ton ▲ +0.7%Bluestem Grass · $123/ton ▲ +15.8%Mixed Grass · $172/ton ▼ −7.6%Orchard Grass · $163/ton ▼ −14.8%

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.

National index
$170
$/ton, all grades
Week over week
▼ −3.0%
vs. prior week · 32 price series matched
Markets reporting
26
136 quotes this week
Observed range
$56–$530
27 weeks of history
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This page is a snapshot, updated as USDA reports post. The Wire comes to you Tuesday at 6:00 Central with the week's verified trades, which markets moved, and what it means before you buy or sell.

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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
11.12M head
up 1.8% vs a year ago
USDA NASS · as of Aug 2026
Freight — On-highway diesel
U.S. $5.60/gal
down $0.05 week over week
Gulf Coast (PADD 3) $5.36/gal · West Coast (PADD 5) $6.50/gal
EIA · as of Aug 31, 2026

Hay prices by state

20 states with prices in this view · shaded by average $/ton · hover for detail, click a state to see its markets for this view.

Alabama: $186/ton, 1 marketsArizona: $250/ton, 1 marketsArkansas: no report for this viewCalifornia: $226/ton, 6 marketsColorado: $249/ton, 6 marketsConnecticut: no report for this viewDelaware: no report for this viewDistrict of Columbia: no report for this viewFlorida: no report for this viewGeorgia: no report for this viewIdaho: $238/ton, 5 marketsIllinois: no report for this viewIndiana: $179/ton, 2 marketsIowa: $165/ton, 2 marketsKansas: $197/ton, 6 marketsKentucky: no report for this viewLouisiana: no report for this viewMaine: no report for this viewMaryland: no report for this viewMassachusetts: no report for this viewMichigan: no report for this viewMinnesota: $122/ton, 1 marketsMississippi: no report for this viewMissouri: no report for this viewMontana: $220/ton, 1 marketsNebraska: $184/ton, 4 marketsNevada: $210/ton, 3 marketsNew Hampshire: no report for this viewNew Jersey: no report for this viewNew Mexico: $200/ton, 1 marketsNew York: no report for this viewNorth Carolina: no report for this viewNorth Dakota: no report for this viewOhio: no report for this viewOklahoma: $183/ton, 2 marketsOregon: $227/ton, 4 marketsPennsylvania: $296/ton, 2 marketsRhode Island: no report for this viewSouth Carolina: no report for this viewSouth Dakota: $195/ton, 2 marketsTennessee: no report for this viewTexas: no report for this viewUtah: $247/ton, 3 marketsVermont: no report for this viewVirginia: no report for this viewWashington: $211/ton, 1 marketsWest Virginia: no report for this viewWisconsin: no report for this viewWyoming: $284/ton, 3 markets
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 102 quotes · every reporting USDA market, searchable and sortable
St Market Commodity Grade Avg Range WoW 12-wk
CACalifornia - Central San Joaquin ValleyAlfalfaFair$240$240$240
CACalifornia - Central San Joaquin ValleyAlfalfaSupreme$335$335$335▼ −1.5%
CACalifornia - North Inter-MountainsAlfalfaPremium$251$242$260▲ +4.8%
CACalifornia - North Inter-MountainsAlfalfaFair/Good$185$185$185▲ +0.5%
CACalifornia - North Inter-MountainsAlfalfaGood$192$192$192▲ +22.5%
CACalifornia - North Inter-MountainsAlfalfaSupreme$210$210$210— 0.0%
CACalifornia - North San Joaquin ValleyAlfalfaSupreme$325$265$335▼ −4.3%
CACalifornia - North San Joaquin ValleyAlfalfaPremium$319$240$330▲ +38.7%
CACalifornia - North San Joaquin ValleyAlfalfaGood$180$180$180▲ +0.8%
CACalifornia - Sacramento ValleyForage Mix-Three WayGood$160$160$160
CACalifornia - SoutheastBermuda GrassGood$135$130$140▼ −10.3%
CACalifornia - SoutheastAlfalfaGood$175$175$175▼ −7.8%
CACalifornia - SoutheastSudanGood$90$90$90▼ −35.7%
COCentennial COAlfalfa$346$313$374
COCentennial COGrass$356$295$393
COCentennial COAlfalfa/Grass Mix$360$321$401
COCentennial COHay$297$268$318
COCentennial COOat$316$266$366
COColorado - NortheastAlfalfaGood/Premium$335$335$335
COColorado - NortheastAlfalfaPremium/Supreme$325$325$325▲ +8.3%
COColorado - San Luis ValleyAlfalfaPremium/Supreme$288$288$288
COColorado - SoutheastAlfalfaGood/Premium$325$325$325▲ +8.3%
IAIowaAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium$280$280$280— 0.0%
IAIowaGrassGood$116$116$116
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaGood/Premium$180$175$182▼ −3.1%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaPremium/Supreme$208$203$225▲ +1.5%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaFair/Good$150$150$150▲ +4.7%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassUtility$105$105$105▲ +16.7%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassUtility/Fair$125$125$125▼ −3.2%
IARockValley IA ThuAlfalfaUtility/Fair$138$138$138— 0.0%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassFair/Good$141$141$141▼ −6.0%
IARockValley IA ThuGrassGood/Premium$177$177$177▼ −0.2%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixFair$159$150$160▲ +5.8%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$221$220$230▼ −4.9%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixFair/Good$190$190$190▼ −5.0%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood/Premium$260$260$260▲ +1.7%
INShipshewana INAlfalfa/Grass MixUtility/Fair$140$140$140▲ +16.7%
INShipshewana INMixed GrassFair$150$150$150▲ +2.5%
INShipshewana INMixed GrassFair/Good$170$170$170▼ −7.6%
INShipshewana INMixed GrassUtility/Fair$130$130$130▲ +11.9%
INTopeka INAlfalfa/Grass MixFair/Good$178$175$180▼ −1.4%
INTopeka INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$214$214$214▲ +0.7%
INTopeka INAlfalfa/Grass MixGood/Premium$290$290$290▲ +11.5%
INTopeka INAlfalfa/Orchard MixFair/Good$180$180$180
MNPipestone MNAlfalfaGood$171$140$176▲ +4.8%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfaFair$102$102$102▼ −17.2%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$152$152$152▼ −17.7%
MNPipestone MNAlfalfa/Grass MixFair$100$100$100▼ −19.6%
MNPipestone MNGrassGood$153$153$153▼ −3.3%
MNPipestone MNGrassUtility$56$56$56▼ −13.1%
MNPipestone MNGrassFair$100$100$100▼ −13.4%
NENebraska - CentralAlfalfaGood$179$179$179▲ +18.6%
NENebraska - CentralPrairie/Meadow GrassGood/Premium$180$180$180▲ +95.7%
NENebraska - EastAlfalfaGood/Premium$204$185$250▼ −10.8%
NENebraska - EastAlfalfaGood$180$180$180▲ +9.1%
NENebraska - EastGrassGood$150$150$150▲ +36.4%
NENebraska - Platte ValleyAlfalfaGood$211$201$220▲ +5.3%
NENebraska - WestGrassGood$150$150$150— 0.0%
NENebraska - WestAlfalfaGood$270$270$270▲ +0.2%
NENebraska - WestAlfalfaGood/Premium$327$327$327— 0.0%
NENebraska - WestAlfalfaUtility/Fair$250$250$250— 0.0%
NENebraska - WestOat$150$150$150— 0.0%
OROregon - Crook/Deschutes/Jefferson/Wasco CountiesAlfalfaSupreme$350$350$350— 0.0%
OROregon - Crook/Deschutes/Jefferson/Wasco CountiesOrchard GrassPremium$350$350$350▲ +7.7%
OROregon - Crook/Deschutes/Jefferson/Wasco CountiesOrchard/BluegrassPremium$330$330$330— 0.0%
OROregon - Klamath BasinAlfalfaPremium$225$225$225— 0.0%
OROregon - Lake CountyAlfalfaGood$220$220$220▲ +22.2%
OROregon - Lake CountyAlfalfaPremium$220$220$220▲ +2.7%
OROregon - Lake CountyAlfalfaSupreme$300$300$300▲ +39.5%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfa/Grass MixSupreme$438$410$530▲ +7.6%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium$323$321$365▼ −10.3%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard GrassPremium$318$304$400▼ −21.8%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfaGood$280$280$280▲ +6.0%
PAWolgemuth PA MonAlfalfaPremium$325$325$325▲ +3.2%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard/Timothy GrassGood$247$247$247▼ −1.3%
PAWolgemuth PA MonGrassFair$180$180$180▲ +38.5%
PAWolgemuth PA MonGrassPremium$355$355$355▲ +4.6%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard/Timothy GrassPremium$295$295$295▼ −13.9%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard/Timothy GrassUtility$120$120$120
PAWolgemuth PA MonTimothy GrassPremium$301$301$301▼ −11.4%
PAWolgemuth PA MonGrassGood$253$253$253▼ −7.3%
PAWolgemuth PA MonGrassUtility$100$100$100▼ −20.0%
PAWolgemuth PA MonOrchard GrassGood$260$260$260▼ −7.1%
PAWolgemuth PA WedGrassPremium$308$300$320▲ +1.7%
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfaPremium$310$310$310▲ +1.1%
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$230$230$230▼ −8.0%
PAWolgemuth PA WedAlfalfa/Grass MixPremium$300$300$300▼ −11.9%
PAWolgemuth PA WedGrassFair$150$150$150▲ +4.3%
PAWolgemuth PA WedOrchard GrassPremium$300$300$300▼ −6.2%
PAWolgemuth PA WedOrchard/Timothy GrassGood$210$210$210▲ +8.6%
PAWolgemuth PA WedOrchard/Timothy GrassPremium$305$305$305— 0.0%
SDDakota SD MonAlfalfa/Grass MixGood$203$200$210▼ −3.6%
SDDakota SD MonAlfalfaFair$151$151$151▼ −8.6%
SDDakota SD MonAlfalfaGood$210$210$210▲ +3.5%
SDDakota SD MonGrassFair$156$156$156▲ +6.2%
SDDakota SD MonGrassGood$202$202$202▲ +11.9%
SDDakota SD MonGrassPremium$300$300$300▲ +36.4%
SDDakota SD MonMilletFair$160$160$160
SDDakota SD MonOatFair$140$140$140▼ −12.5%
UTUtah - NorthAlfalfaGood$245$245$245▲ +22.5%
UTUtah - SouthAlfalfaGood/Premium$246$246$246
UTUtah - SouthAlfalfaSupreme$267$267$267▲ +0.6%

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

Go deeper with Pro

Everything above is free. Pro unlocks weekly price history (CSV & Excel) and custom price alerts when your market moves.

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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.

What is the average price of hay right now?

For the week of August 24, 2026, the HayWire national hay price index is $170 per ton (down 3.0% week over week), based on 136 auction observations across 26 reporting markets. Observed prices ranged from $56 to $530 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, and the full market table are free and shown here. HayWire Pro unlocks weekly price-history downloads (CSV and Excel) and custom price alerts.

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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