Hay delivered out of northern Montana is fetching $180.00–$230.00 per load depending on freight and quality, as regional hay prices hold generally steady to firm across nine High Plains states, according to USDA Market News reports compiled Oct. 1–8.

Drought remains the market's dividing line. Strong demand persists in Oklahoma and drought-affected areas of South Dakota, while improved moisture has eased grazing pressure in parts of Montana. Producers are positioning for fall and winter feeding.

Where are prices moving?

Colorado (Sept. 24 report): Trade activity was moderate, with good to very good demand for new-crop hay in all markets. Premium small squares of alfalfa sold 25–40 cents per bale higher, and premium small squares of prairie and meadow grass horse hay gained 50 cents per bale. Silage harvest is still underway. The next report is Oct. 8.

Nebraska (Sept. 24 report): Alfalfa and grass bales sold steady statewide. Ground and delivered hay in the Central area brought steady to $10 higher; the Platte Valley sold steady; the west sold $20 higher. Sun-cured pellets in the East gained $20, while dehy pellets held steady. Demand ran moderate to instances good, though several contacts noted buyer inquiry has softened in the past two weeks.

Montana (Oct. 2 report): Hay sold generally steady with moderate to good demand and moderate supplies. Fall rains have lightened demand somewhat by improving late-season grazing. Third and fourth cuttings are going up in some locations, with many producers reporting strong third-cutting yields, especially in western and central Montana.

Wyoming (Oct. 1 report): All reported forages sold steady, with moderate to instances good demand. Much of the hay moving now was sold earlier in the year and is just being delivered. Most producers are on third cutting, with a few finishing second cutting in the northwest. Most irrigation districts have shut down on 2026 water allotments.

What is drought doing to demand?

Oklahoma's Oct. 2 report shows demand for hay remains high. Recent rain came too late in the year, and all types of hay are moving as the state still seeks moisture ahead of winter. The next Oklahoma report lands Oct. 16, the same day Texas posts its next release; Texas hay prices and demand remain good.

South Dakota's Sept. 4 report showed good to very good demand for all classes of hay, with the best demand from western South Dakota, where drought has been severe and little hay was made this year. Grass hay supplies are limited because April and May were dry. Eastern areas made substantially less hay than normal in some spots, while alfalfa produced pretty well in others.

Montana's drought monitor reading shows improvement: 37.77% of the state is in moderate drought or worse, down 9.25% from two weeks earlier. Severe drought or worse covers 13.09%, down 5.00%; extreme drought or worse sits at 4.94%, down 0.07%; exceptional drought is 0%, unchanged. Notably, 61.04% of the state is abnormally dry, down 16.46%.

Why is freight shaping basis?

In Missouri's Oct. 1 report, conditions split sharply: plentiful moisture and harvest delays in the north, while the south faces a lack of water and pastures. Hay feeding has started, along with light herd culling. No overall shortage exists — spring was good statewide and a lot of hay was baled — but producers in dry areas will not find many local sellers, and high fuel costs make trucking hay expensive.

Missouri hay supply is moderate to heavy, with abundant listings especially of fair-to-good quality grass hay. Demand and movement are light to moderate, and prices are steady to firm. The Missouri Department of Agriculture runs a hay directory, and the University of Missouri Extension offers a feedstuff finder.

In Montana, northern hay remains at a discount to southern hay as sellers compete with Canadian and North Dakota product moving along Highway 2. High freight costs have localized pricing, and some producers report excess loads after buyers backed out of spoken-for hay as cheaper Canadian and regional supply eased concerns.

Colorado's next report on Oct. 8 and the Oct. 16 Oklahoma and Texas releases should show whether drought-driven demand firms prices further into the winter feeding window.