USDA Montana Hay                                   03/20 13:00
AMS_2769
 
Montana Direct Hay Report

                               Released on March 20, 2026
 
Direct Hay Weighted Average Report for week ending 03/20/2026
 
                                      VOLUME
                    This Week         Last Reported         Last Year
                                       (03/02/2026)
Tons:
      Hay           525                 1933                2305                
      Straw                             12                  200                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total         525                 1945                2505                
======================================================================

Compared to last report(3-06-26): Hay sold mostly steady in a narrow 
comparison.
Hay supplies in central and western Montana are very tight and continue 
to tighten.
Many producers in central Montana report being out of hay completely.
Some ranchers are buying hay as insurance due to drought concerns while 
others are buying hay to make it to grass.
Hay to ship north along the highline continues to be delivered mostly 
from 215.00-245.00/ton.
While much of the state received very good moisture over the last week, 
some locations especially in the far east and parts of Central Montana 
were very light on moisture.
Mountain snowfall totals were very beneficial as snowpack numbers saw 
positive gains.
This helped slightly improve drought conditions in western Montana according 
to the drought monitor.
Producers continue discussions on 2026 hay contracts, however none have 
established prices as of this writing.
According to the drought monitor 66.70 of the state is in Moderate drought 
or worse, down 0.03% from 2 weeks ago.
19.70% of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, down 0.36% from 
2 weeks ago.
3.96% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, down 0.21% from 2 weeks ago.
0% of the state is in Expectational drought, unchanged from 2 weeks ago.
Notably, 92.42% of the state is abnormally dry, down 2.37% from 2 weeks ago.

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                                   N/A
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Hay Conventional
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Alfalfa Good Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square 3x4       175       170.0   170    F.O.B.                         

Alfalfa/Grass Mix Good Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Large Square 3x4       300       160.0   160    F.O.B.                         

Timothy Grass Fair Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Small Square           25        210.0   210    F.O.B.     Small Lots          

Timothy Grass Premium Per Ton
                        Qty   Price Range Wtd    Freight/   Description Crop Age
                                          Avg    Use
                        ---   ----------- ---    ---------- ----------- --------
 Small Square           25        240.0   240    F.O.B.-    Small Lots          
                                                 Stables