California Weekly Hay Report

ML_GR311                                                                       
St Joseph, MO    Fri May 11, 2012    USDA Market News Service

Compared to last week:  Domestic Alfalfa traded steady to 5.00 lower in all 
regions, full decline in Region 6.  Retail/Stable hay traded mostly steady with a 
slight undertone noted.  Export hay traded mostly 5.00 lower.  Demand moderate 
for all classes with moderate trade activity.  Northern California has started 
baling in many regions, excluding the Intermountain region with plans to start 
baling by June 1st in that region.  Several lots of overgrown hay entering the 
marketplace this week across the Central Valley, softening in the market for mid-
range to low quality hay noted.  Higher testing hay is still commanding a good 
price as other qualities are slipping.  Region 6 hay trade is weakening, however 
both brokers and exporters are still interested, just at lower values.  Quality 
has changed over to lower tests with warmer current temperatures affecting hay 
quality.  Sudan and Klein grass pricing expected in the next few weeks.  All 
prices are reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.

Tons:  68,320    Last Week:  37,165    Last Year:  58,562                      

Region 1: North Inter-Mountain:  Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas.  All 
prices reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.              

                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                 125  235.00-235.00  235.00                       
      Premium                 225  270.00-275.00  270.56     Retail/Stable     
      Fair                    100  195.00-195.00  195.00                       
  Alfalfa/Orchard Mix                                                          
      Premium                 200  280.00-280.00  280.00     Retail/Stable     
      Fair/Good               500  220.00-220.00  220.00     Retail/Stable     
  Orchard Grass                                                                
      Premium                 200  290.00-290.00  290.00     Retail/Stable     
      Good                     50  240.00-240.00  240.00                       
  Rye Grass                                                                    
      Good                    150  160.00-160.00  160.00     Retail/Stable     
  Native Grass                                                                 
      Premium                 100  250.00-250.00  250.00                       
  Oat                                                                          
      Premium                 200  180.00-180.00  180.00     Retail/Stable     
  Forage Mix-Three Way                                                         
      Good                    300  170.00-170.00  170.00                       

Region 2: Sacramento Valley:  Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, 
Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento, Amador, and Alpine.  All 
prices reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.
                                                 
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
    Cubes                                                                      
      Supreme                  25  270.00-270.00  270.00                       
      Fair                     75  210.00-210.00  210.00                       
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                  25  250.00-250.00  250.00                       
      Premium                  25  240.00-240.00  240.00                       
                              375  160.00-180.00  168.00     Excessive Moisture
                              125  270.00-270.00  270.00     Retail/Stable     
      Good/Premium            100  220.00-220.00  220.00                       
                              100  257.00-257.00  257.00 Del                   
      Good                     75  210.00-210.00  210.00     Rain Damage       
                              925  220.00-230.00  220.54     Retail/Stable     
                               75  247.00-247.00  247.00 Del Rain Damage       
      Fair                    250  200.00-200.00  200.00                       
                              250  237.00-237.00  237.00 Del                   
  Orchard Grass                                                                
      Premium                  75  250.00-250.00  250.00     Retail/Stable     
      Good                     25  240.00-240.00  240.00     Retail/Stable     
  Oat                                                                          
      Premium                 100  180.00-190.00  185.00     Retail/Stable     
      Good                    150  150.00-150.00  150.00                       
      Fair                    100  100.00-100.00  100.00     Moldy             
  Wheat Straw                                                                  
      Premium                 375   85.00-85.00    85.00 Del Erosion Control   
                              325  110.00-110.00  110.00 Del Retail/Stable     
      Good                    325  100.00-100.00  100.00 Del Retail/Stable     

Region 3: Northern San Joaquin Valley:  San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, 
Tuolumne, Mono, Merced, Mariposa.  All prices reported FOB the stack or barn 
unless otherwise noted.                                                      
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                1275  250.00-260.00  256.27                       
                              150  290.00-290.00  290.00 Del                   
      Premium                 325  240.00-250.00  244.62                       
                              860  170.00-180.00  176.69     Excessive Moisture
                              375  230.00-238.00  231.60     Rain Damage       
                              175  240.00-240.00  240.00     Retail/Stable     
      Good                    125  220.00-230.00  226.00                       
                              750  180.00-190.00  185.33     Excessive Moisture
                              750  215.00-215.00  215.00     Rain Damage       
      Fair                   1975  185.00-220.00  198.54                       
                              700  160.00-160.00  160.00     Excessive Moisture
                             1100  160.00-190.00  182.61     Rain Damage       
  Alfalfa/Orchard Mix                                                          
      Premium                  25  285.00-285.00  285.00 Del Retail/Stable     
      Good                    150  230.00-230.00  230.00     Retail/Stable     
  Orchard Grass                                                                
      Good                    150  225.00-225.00  225.00     Retail/Stable     
  Native Grass                                                                 
      Good                    150  120.00-120.00  120.00                       
  Oat Silage                                                                   
    Chopped                                                                    
      Good                          40.00-40.00    40.00                       
  Oat                                                                          
      Premium                1500  200.00-200.00  200.00     Export            
                              150  180.00-180.00  180.00     Retail/Stable     
                               25  220.00-220.00  220.00 Del Retail/Stable     
      Good                    100  160.00-160.00  160.00                       
  Wheat Silage                                                                 
    Chopped                                                                    
      Good                          40.00-40.00    40.00                       
  Wheat                                                                        
      Good                    200  155.00-160.00  157.50                       
                              200  170.00-170.00  170.00 Del                   
  Triticale Silage                                                             
      Good                     25  205.00-205.00  205.00 Del                   
  Forage Mix-Three Way                                                         
      Good                    350  155.00-155.00  155.00                       
  Wheat Straw                                                                  
      Good                    300  125.00-125.00  125.00 Del                   

Region 4: Central San Joaquin Valley:  Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo.  
All prices reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted. 
                                        
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
    Chopped                                                                    
      Good                   5000   42.00-42.00    42.00                       
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                 150  230.00-230.00  230.00     Rain Damage       
                             2000  250.00-280.00  265.00 Del                   
      Premium                 150  245.00-245.00  245.00                       
      Good                    150  230.00-230.00  230.00                       
  Barley Silage                                                                
      Good                    750   40.00-45.00    43.33                       
  Corn Silage                                                                  
      Good                     10   40.00-45.00    42.50                       
  Triticale Silage                                                             
      Good                     10   40.00-45.00    42.50                       

Region 5: Southern California:  Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and Western San 
Bernardino.  All prices reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.   

                            Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                3555  250.00-275.00  263.56                       
                              950  240.00-240.00  240.00     Excessive Moisture
                               25  250.00-250.00  250.00     Weedy             
                             2525  270.00-295.00  283.56 Del                   
      Premium                2750  240.00-250.00  247.95                       
                              100  215.00-215.00  215.00     Rain Damage       
                              200  300.00-300.00  300.00     Retail/Stable     
                             2750  250.00-270.00  266.95 Del                   
                              225  225.00-235.00  229.44 Del Rain Damage       
      Good                    400  240.00-240.00  240.00                       
                              350  200.00-200.00  200.00     Rain Damage       
                              350  220.00-220.00  220.00 Del Rain Damage       
      Fair                    600  200.00-215.00  204.88                       
  Forage Mix-Three Way                                                         
      Premium                 250  240.00-240.00  240.00                       

Region 6: Southeast California:  Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial.  
All prices reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.          
                             Tons   Price Range   Wtd Avg    Comments          
  Alfalfa                                                                      
      Supreme                2000  280.00-290.00  283.75 Del                   
      Premium                1200  235.00-235.00  235.00     Export            
                             1800  250.00-260.00  253.33     Retail/Stable     
                             1500  270.00-275.00  271.67 Del                   
                              675  270.00-300.00  280.74 Del Retail/Stable     
      Good                   6925  220.00-230.00  220.72                       
                              450  220.00-220.00  220.00     Contracted        
                             6775  220.00-230.00  225.48     Export            
                              525  210.00-210.00  210.00     Grassy            
                              200  212.00-215.00  213.50     Rain Damage       
                             1575  220.00-245.00  237.06     Retail/Stable     
                              125  225.00-225.00  225.00     Weedy             
                              700  255.00-265.00  260.71 Del                   
                              175  260.00-265.00  261.43 Del Retail/Stable     
      Fair                    700  210.00-215.00  213.57                       
                              100  190.00-190.00  190.00     Grassy            
                              250  200.00-200.00  200.00     Weedy             
  Orchard Grass                                                                
      Premium                  25  310.00-310.00  310.00 Del Retail/Stable     
  Bermuda Grass                                                                
      Premium                 225  280.00-283.00  281.33     Retail/Stable     
                               75  300.00-300.00  300.00 Del Retail/Stable     
      Good                    225  185.00-185.00  185.00                       
                              800  245.00-255.00  250.31     Retail/Stable     
                               50  265.00-265.00  265.00 Del Retail/Stable     
  Oat                                                                          
      Premium                  50  250.00-250.00  250.00     Retail/Stable     

Alfalfa hay test guidelines, (for domestic livestock use and not more than 
10% grass), used with visual appearance and intent of sale Quantitative 
factors are approximate and many factors can affect feeding value.         
                                                                          
             ADF     NDF     RFV     TDN-100%    TDN-90%   CP-100%                 
 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                   
                                                                                   
   ADF = Acid Detergent Fiber; NDF = Neutral Detergent Fiber; RFV = Relative 
Feed Value; TDN = Total Digestible nutrients. RFV calculated using the 
Wis/Minn formula.  TDN calculated using the western formula. Values based on 
100% dry matter, TDN both 90% and 100%.           

Source - USDA Market News Service, St Joseph, MO                               
         Kinley Hartman; Jeff Pendleton, and Charlie Potts 816-238-0678                         
         http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnsreportsML_GR311                            
                                                                               
1000p   kkh jp cp                        

1. E85 consumption remains the same despite incentives
2. Ag markets moved mostly higher Wednesday morning
3. Wet conditions threaten hay crop as harvest is delayed
4. UNL crop-residue presentations available online
5. Cow slaughter through May likely to exceed same period in 2012
6. Beef Quiz: Growing beef demand

1. Will Smith dethroned in latest Peterson Farm Bros. parody
2. 3,000 pounds of copper wire stolen from Oklahoma ranch
3. Changes in U.S.-Mexican cattle and beef trade
4. Crude oil expected to peak and cost of electricity to go down
5. Peterson Brothers: What summer vacation?
6. Experts weigh in on lowest beef supply in 60 years

1. COOL isn’t working
2. Feedyard margins a train wreck, packers cozy
3. 2100: 11 billion mouths to feed
4. New tools emerging to measure soil health
5. Changes in U.S.-Mexican cattle and beef trade
6. How to grow beef demand