USDA Texas Hay                                     12/13 10:30
AM_GR310        
Amarillo, TX       Fri Dec 13, 2019    USDA Market News

Weekly Texas Hay Report 

   Compared to last report:  Hay trades were mostly steady to firm on 
higher quality hays and steady to weak on lower quality hays.  Buyer 
demand was good on moderate to active trading activity.  Hay quality 
continues to be the largest determiner in price.  A large portion of the 
good hay has traded leaving a lot of low-quality hay on the market.  
According to the Texas Crop and Weather Report, pasture conditions 
continue to decline statewide as warm-season grasses continue to go 
dormant.  Some late hay was cut in Southeast Texas.  Cool-season forages 
have germinated, but more moisture is needed to initiate growth.  Winter 
wheat has emerged in fair condition in the Panhandle and in good 
condition in North Texas.  However, in the Far West winter wheat is still 
too short for grazing.

   The Texas Department of Agriculture has Hay and Grazing phone set 
up for Buyers and sellers looking for hay or grazing; the number is 1-
512-787-9966. The website for the hotline is: 
http://www.texasagriculture.gov/Home/ProductionAgriculture/HayHotline.asp
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Panhandle/High Plains:
Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Supreme: 275.00-300.00; Premium: 
230.00-260.00; Good: 175.00-190.00; Utility 130.00.              
Small bales: Delivered: Premium: 260.00-275.00, 8.00-9.00 per bale. 
Ground Alfalfa: Delivered to feedlots: Avg 195.00-215.00. 
                                            Calf 225.00-245.00. 
Coastal Bermuda: Large Bales: Delivered: Premium to Supreme: 
175.00
Wheat: Large Bales: Delivered: Beardless 245.00. Bearded 130.00-
135.00. 
Sorghum: Large Bales: Delivered: Green 125.00-150.00; Brown 95.00-
115.00.
CRP: Large Bales: Delivered: 85.00-95.00.
      Cotton Burrs: Delivered: 95.00-105.00. 
     
Far West Texas/Trans Pecos: 
Alfalfa: Small Squares: Delivered local or FOB: Premium to Supreme:
     290.00-330.00, 10.00-11.00 per bale.
      Large Squares: FOB: Premium to Supreme: 250.00-265.00. 
      Triticale: Large Rounds: FOB: 65.00 per roll.

North, Central, and East Texas:
Alfalfa: Large Squares: Delivered: Premium to Supreme: 255.00-
270.00.
   Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Premium: 260.00-330.00, 8.00-
10.00 per bale; Good: 200.00-260.00, 6.00-10.00 per bale.
      Large Rounds: FOB: Good to Premium: 120.00-140.00, 60.00-70.00 per 
roll.
         
South Texas:
   Coastal Bermuda: Small Squares: FOB: Good to Premium: 260.00-
330.00, 8.00-10.00 per bale; Fair to Good: 165.00-260.00, 5.00-8.00 per 
bale. 
 Large Rounds: FOB and delivered locally: Good to Premium: 120.00-
160.00, 60-80.00 per roll; Fair or Grass Mix: 100.00-110.00, 50.00-
55.00 per roll.
   
   Table 1: Alfalfa guidelines (for domestic livestock use and not more 
than 10% grass)
Quality       ADF     NDF     *RFV     **TDN-100%     **TDN-90%     CP
Supreme       <27     <34     >185        >62           >55.9      >22
Premium      27-29   34-36   170-185    60.5-62       54.5-55.9   20-22
Good         29-32   36-40   150-170      58-60       52.5-54.5   18-20
Fair         32-35   40-44   130-150      56-58       50.5-52.5   16-18
Utility       >35     >44     <130         <56          <50.5      <16

*RFV calculated using the Wis/Minn formula. 
**TDN calculated using the western formula.  Quantitative factors are 
approximate, and many factors can affect feeding value. Values based on 
100% dry matter (TDN showing both 100% & 90%).  Guidelines are to be used 
with visual appearance and intent of sale (usage).

  Table 2: Grass Hay guidelines
Quality       Crude Protein Percent 
Premium             Over 13
Good                 9-13
Fair                 5-9
Utility             Under 5

Quantitative factors are approximate, and many factors can affect feeding 
value.  Values based on 100% dry matter.  End usage may influence hay 
price or value more than testing results. 

Hay Quality Designation's physical descriptions: 
   Supreme: Very early maturity, pre bloom, soft fine stemmed, extra 
leafy. Factors indicative of very high nutritive content.  Hay is 
excellent color and free of damage.
   Premium: Early maturity, i.e., pre-bloom in legumes and pre head in 
grass hays, extra leafy and fine stemmed-factors indicative of a high 
nutritive content.  Hay is green and free of damage.  
   Good: Early to average maturity, i.e., early to mid-bloom in legumes 
and early head in grass hays, leafy, fine to medium stemmed, free of 
damage other than slight discoloration. 
   Fair: Late maturity, i.e., mid to late-bloom in legumes, head-in grass 
hays, moderate or below leaf content, and generally coarse stemmed. Hay 
may show light damage. 
   Utility: Hay in very late maturity, such as mature seed pods in 
legumes or mature head in grass hays, coarse stemmed.  This category 
could include hay discounted due to excessive damage and heavy weed 
content or mold.  Defects will be identified in market reports when using 
this category.


Source:  USDA Market News Service, Amarillo, TX
         Lana Hutto, Market Reporter 806-356-5785
   Landrea.hutto@ams.usda.gov            
   www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AM_GR310.txt
         
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