For Those who Sell Hay - Prices in 2026?

[DanielW]

Rustred's reply in the thread below about fuel prices, where he noted grain prices haven't jumped has got me thinking more about something I've already been pondering.

With everything gone to heck in the world, fuel prices skyrocketing, fertilizer prices skyrocketing (and projected to go even higher over the coming months), what are your folks' thoughts about pricing your hay?

I sell most of the hay I do at the Southern farm. Admittedly not much, and I run a pretty antiquated operation down at that farm. Not sure I ever actually make any significant money (certainly not if I placed a decent value on my time), but it usually pays for itself, plus perhaps a little more if things are good. And I enjoy doing it, and it's good to add to the rotation. Folks this time of year are already asking me to allot some of this year's hay for them - as they always do this time of year. But I'm not sure I want to lock them in at set prices, because I'm not sure what those prices can/should be - nor what other prices in the area will be come haying season.

I've never been concerned about making much money at the hay I do down there - it's a pretty small part of my income stream. But I don't want to lose my shirt either. With fuel and fertilizer costs as they are, I wouldn't even come close to making profit at last years' rates. So I'm not sure what to charge, nor if I'd be out of line to increase prices. When I look at hay others are selling in the area, it's all for the same prices as last year. Now that is, of course, last years' hay. And I know there's going to be a lag between input costs and sale price increases. But I'm not sure what to anticipate, nor if others will be thinking like me.

So for those of you that sell hay (and don't mind sharing): Do you plan on increasing prices this year? By what percentage? Do you think your customers will baulk? I'm suspecting that the effects of today's fuel and fertilizer prices on commodities (and hay) will really only be felt in their full extent in about 8 months time. So should I just not commit to any sales for the next couple months, stick it all in the barn, and sell through the winter?

Any thoughts/opinions/wild speculation greatly welcome.

 

[NY 986]

Rustred's reply in the thread below about fuel prices, where he noted grain prices haven't jumped has got me thinking more about something I've already been pondering.

With everything gone to heck in the world, fuel prices skyrocketing, fertilizer prices skyrocketing (and projected to go even higher over the coming months), what are your folks' thoughts about pricing your hay?

I sell most of the hay I do at the Southern farm. Admittedly not much, and I run a pretty antiquated operation down at that farm. Not sure I ever actually make any significant money (certainly not if I placed a decent value on my time), but it usually pays for itself, plus perhaps a little more if things are good. And I enjoy doing it, and it's good to add to the rotation. Folks this time of year are already asking me to allot some of this year's hay for them - as they always do this time of year. But I'm not sure I want to lock them in at set prices, because I'm not sure what those prices can/should be - nor what other prices in the area will be come haying season.

I've never been concerned about making much money at the hay I do down there - it's a pretty small part of my income stream. But I don't want to lose my shirt either. With fuel and fertilizer costs as they are, I wouldn't even come close to making profit at last years' rates. So I'm not sure what to charge, nor if I'd be out of line to increase prices. When I look at hay others are selling in the area, it's all for the same prices as last year. Now that is, of course, last years' hay. And I know there's going to be a lag between input costs and sale price increases. But I'm not sure what to anticipate, nor if others will be thinking like me.

So for those of you that sell hay (and don't mind sharing): Do you plan on increasing prices this year? By what percentage? Do you think your customers will baulk? I'm suspecting that the effects of today's fuel and fertilizer prices on commodities (and hay) will really only be felt in their full extent in about 8 months time. So should I just not commit to any sales for the next couple months, stick it all in the barn, and sell through the winter?

Any thoughts/opinions/wild speculation greatly welcome.

Usually most producers plan on storing hay until cold weather. Buyers this time of year always figure on a huge hay crop and make offers accordingly. Exceptional 1st cutting quality might prompt a few buyers to offer above current market prices. But as a seller if that hay draws attention now it has the potential to draw even higher prices late in the year. Always the chance there will be a huge crop for 2026 and prices will reflect it late this fall. Generally pre-harvest pricing is not a significant factor around here. If you know your costs and know what you want as a return on your labor then set a price accordingly. Yes, you might miss the high of the market but you might avoid a low (if the buyer is good for their word).

 

[DanielW]

Usually most producers plan on storing hay until cold weather. Buyers this time of year always figure on a huge hay crop and make offers accordingly. Exceptional 1st cutting quality might prompt a few buyers to offer above current market prices. But as a seller if that hay draws attention now it has the potential to draw even higher prices late in the year. Always the chance there will be a huge crop for 2026 and prices will reflect it late this fall. Generally pre-harvest pricing is not a significant factor around here. If you know your costs and know what you want as a return on your labor then set a price accordingly. Yes, you might miss the high of the market but you might avoid a low (if the buyer is good for their word).

Good thoughts. I've previously thought about storing hay until winter and not committing to any sales earlier in the year. I've only done that a little in the past, however. One reason is because I always figure a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush... etc. Better to take a known offer now than risk having a barn full of unsold hay leftover next year.

The other more practical reason I haven't done that is because at that Southern farm I run mostly old/antiquated equipment. Until a couple months ago I had no 4X4 loader at that farm, so being able to plow through a couple feet of snow to access the hay barns (which are well distant from the driveway/road) was not something I'd want to guarantee buyers. But I bought a Massey 4x4 loader a couple months ago for that farm (actually a backhoe that the PO had pulled the cab and hoe off), and I'm almost through getting it operational. So that might be a more feasible option henceforth.

If I knew what my input costs would be I'd definitely be more comfortable setting a price now. It's the unknowns this year that are throwing me. Maybe a miracle will happen and fuel prices will drop, but with the way things are looking I'm definitely not holding my breath. I'm more inclined to think they'll either stay stagnant or keep increasing, but I just don't know. Same thing with fertilizer. Because it's primarily alfalfa, I find I get much better yield and healthier regrowth splitting my application. Usually a 6-24-24 mix in the spring, and a healthy dose of K-Mag (with Boron and Copper to taste) between first and second cut. Often another smaller 6-24-24 dose after second cut if timing and weather looks like I'll get a decent third cut. Seems to do really well for me. But I have no idea what the fertilizer price might be after first & second cut. Fertilizer dealer near me isn't even offering to lock in 2026 prices & commitments like they typically do, because they have no idea what might happen. They told me they're already losing money hand-over-fist sending out fertilizer to customers who locked in last fall.

 

[sotxbill]

Big EL Nino year, so rain patterns will change..More rain to South and less to the North... Dont count your chickens??? As this could drastically change prices.

 

[NY 986]

Good thoughts. I've previously thought about storing hay until winter and not committing to any sales earlier in the year. I've only done that a little in the past, however. One reason is because I always figure a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush... etc. Better to take a known offer now than risk having a barn full of unsold hay leftover next year.

The other more practical reason I haven't done that is because at that Southern farm I run mostly old/antiquated equipment. Until a couple months ago I had no 4X4 loader at that farm, so being able to plow through a couple feet of snow to access the hay barns (which are well distant from the driveway/road) was not something I'd want to guarantee buyers. But I bought a Massey 4x4 loader a couple months ago for that farm (actually a backhoe that the PO had pulled the cab and hoe off), and I'm almost through getting it operational. So that might be a more feasible option henceforth.

If I knew what my input costs would be I'd definitely be more comfortable setting a price now. It's the unknowns this year that are throwing me. Maybe a miracle will happen and fuel prices will drop, but with the way things are looking I'm definitely not holding my breath. I'm more inclined to think they'll either stay stagnant or keep increasing, but I just don't know. Same thing with fertilizer. Because it's primarily alfalfa, I find I get much better yield and healthier regrowth splitting my application. Usually a 6-24-24 mix in the spring, and a healthy dose of K-Mag (with Boron and Copper to taste) between first and second cut. Often another smaller 6-24-24 dose after second cut if timing and weather looks like I'll get a decent third cut. Seems to do really well for me. But I have no idea what the fertilizer price might be after first & second cut. Fertilizer dealer near me isn't even offering to lock in 2026 prices & commitments like they typically do, because they have no idea what might happen. They told me they're already losing money hand-over-fist sending out fertilizer to customers who locked in last fall.

You are lucky in that you seem to have ethical and honorable hay buyers. Seldom does that happen around here. Buyers will cross the street over a penny and back out on a deal. Also, you have to load when the buyer wants to load even if there is 2 feet of snow and 0 degrees F out. Your hay has to be pretty good for a buyer to work around your schedule.

 

[ss55]

Rustred's reply in the thread below about fuel prices, where he noted grain prices haven't jumped has got me thinking more about something I've already been pondering.

With everything gone to heck in the world, fuel prices skyrocketing, fertilizer prices skyrocketing (and projected to go even higher over the coming months), what are your folks' thoughts about pricing your hay?

I sell most of the hay I do at the Southern farm. Admittedly not much, and I run a pretty antiquated operation down at that farm. Not sure I ever actually make any significant money (certainly not if I placed a decent value on my time), but it usually pays for itself, plus perhaps a little more if things are good. And I enjoy doing it, and it's good to add to the rotation. Folks this time of year are already asking me to allot some of this year's hay for them - as they always do this time of year. But I'm not sure I want to lock them in at set prices, because I'm not sure what those prices can/should be - nor what other prices in the area will be come haying season.

I've never been concerned about making much money at the hay I do down there - it's a pretty small part of my income stream. But I don't want to lose my shirt either. With fuel and fertilizer costs as they are, I wouldn't even come close to making profit at last years' rates. So I'm not sure what to charge, nor if I'd be out of line to increase prices. When I look at hay others are selling in the area, it's all for the same prices as last year. Now that is, of course, last years' hay. And I know there's going to be a lag between input costs and sale price increases. But I'm not sure what to anticipate, nor if others will be thinking like me.

So for those of you that sell hay (and don't mind sharing): Do you plan on increasing prices this year? By what percentage? Do you think your customers will baulk? I'm suspecting that the effects of today's fuel and fertilizer prices on commodities (and hay) will really only be felt in their full extent in about 8 months time. So should I just not commit to any sales for the next couple months, stick it all in the barn, and sell through the winter?

Any thoughts/opinions/wild speculation greatly welcome.

Pencil out your alternatives for a true comparison, include a fair value for your labor. Livestock areas with strong hay markets often have a good straw market too, usually at a higher price than hay though yields are lower. If small grains do well in your area selling the grain and selling the straw might still be profitable.

In the US Midwest there seems to be almost no interest in producing food for people anymore, only in corn and soybeans for export and bio-fuels. Is it the same in your area?

 

[NY 986]

Pencil out your alternatives for a true comparison, include a fair value for your labor. Livestock areas with strong hay markets often have a good straw market too, usually at a higher price than hay though yields are lower. If small grains do well in your area selling the grain and selling the straw might still be profitable.

In the US Midwest there seems to be almost no interest in producing food for people anymore, only in corn and soybeans for export and bio-fuels. Is it the same in your area?

Large dairies are by far the largest factor when it comes to buying bedding and they have long since gone over to sand from straw. Straw for bedding race horses is still a thing but it is a small market and tough to break into. Not something to be counted on with any regularity.

 

[DanielW]

In the US Midwest there seems to be almost no interest in producing food for people anymore, only in corn and soybeans for export and bio-fuels. Is it the same in your area?

Yup, same here. Folks think that "Corn and Beans" constitutes a rotation. I can't blame them too much if that's where the market is, and I certainly don't want to sound like some long-haired, tree-hugging hippy. But this alternating strictly between RR corn and RR beans is basically just slow ravaging of the land. Folks have forgot everything their grandfathers knew about soil health, and now only care about Nitrogen credits. I went to an OMAFRA meeting years ago where one of the speakers emphasized that corn and beans with modern tillage and drilling practices were both carbon negative by a large amount. He said what I've always felt: The whole idea of trying to simplify fertility into this 'credit' system was a major mistake, because it makes soil fertility sound far simpler than it really should be. For my part, I'm glad to see that cattle and wheat prices are (for now) higher. Those of us who stuck with cattle and other cereals are (finally) able to make a profit.

 

[NY 986]

Yup, same here. Folks think that "Corn and Beans" constitutes a rotation. I can't blame them too much if that's where the market is, and I certainly don't want to sound like some long-haired, tree-hugging hippy. But this alternating strictly between RR corn and RR beans is basically just slow ravaging of the land. Folks have forgot everything their grandfathers knew about soil health, and now only care about Nitrogen credits. I went to an OMAFRA meeting years ago where one of the speakers emphasized that corn and beans with modern tillage and drilling practices were both carbon negative by a large amount. He said what I've always felt: The whole idea of trying to simplify fertility into this 'credit' system was a major mistake, because it makes soil fertility sound far simpler than it really should be. For my part, I'm glad to see that cattle and wheat prices are (for now) higher. Those of us who stuck with cattle and other cereals are (finally) able to make a profit.

The emphasis is living for the moment but tomorrow will come and it will not be pretty.

 

[Dopp Creek]

I sell small squares out of the field at the home place for 7.00/bale. Same people come back every year because they like the way I make hay. One guy asks me to store about 50 bales for him that he picks up at lambing time in Jan-Feb so I charge him an extra 2.00/per for storage. I think I will be going to 8.00 this year because urea went to 825/ton and fuel is over 6.00 here in NW Oregon.

 

[JOCCO]

Well gentleman i am no clairvoyant but i predict prices will rise. I do square bales and store some. Not sure how demand will be.

 

[ss55]

I sell small squares out of the field at the home place for 7.00/bale. Same people come back every year because they like the way I make hay. One guy asks me to store about 50 bales for him that he picks up at lambing time in Jan-Feb so I charge him an extra 2.00/per for storage. I think I will be going to 8.00 this year because urea went to 825/ton and fuel is over 6.00 here in NW Oregon.

Is that bales on the ground ready for buyer pickup, stacked on the buyer's trailer, or as-baled in a bale thrower wagon? Just curious how people do things in different places.

 

[jddrawbar]

Well gentleman i am no clairvoyant but i predict prices will rise. I do square bales and store some. Not sure how demand will be.

Fuel prices were higher in '22 & they came down, I guess they will probably do it again.

 

[trackrat]

I bale 3to400 bales a year on our little place only sold about 40 bales over the winter in the Dallas area a lot of the little cattlemen have sold all their cows in the last 20 years I have sold round hay for, from 30 to 120 dollars a bale asked 50 a bale last winter phone did not ring neighbor says he won't even bale hay this year he has over 600 bales left from last year and is losing pasture to developers every day

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Whatever it is, I ain't charging enough.

Mike

 

[joeysmith]

Finally got 20 out of the last 50 bales of last years prairie hay
Gave another 50 away for free before that
If someone committed 30 for all of this years today id take it
If not I'll set on it an see what happens
Didn't even put my brome up last year
1300 poundish rounds

 

[miner09]

Last year in north Texas everyone had more hay than usual. I didn’t even bale second cutting. Not many people bought hay. About month or so everyone was advertising hay for 25 to $30 roll. Just as the war started and diesel was going up I decided to buy last year’s hay. $25 roll for 5x4. You can bale for that. I saw ad on marketplace for this years first cutting $130 roll. People are talking here what the cost of baling will be. No one has given any prices what they think it will be since they think diesel will still go higher than the $5 it is now.

 

[trackrat]

re

Last year in north Texas everyone had more hay than usual. I didn’t even bale second cutting. Not many people bought hay. About month or so everyone was advertising hay for 25 to $30 roll. Just as the war started and diesel was going up I decided to buy last year’s hay. $25 roll for 5x4. You can bale for that. I saw ad on marketplace for this years first cutting $130 roll. People are talking here what the cost of baling will be. No one has given any prices what they think it will be since they think diesel will still go higher than the $5 it is now.

I have been charging 25 for the past few tears one of my neighbors charging 19 but has a bunch of restrictions and add ons, I have just had a 250 min. now they say 30 for this year I dont know if there will be any takers, a lot say they won't be getting anything baled this year. I dont know what the charge will be to get hay baled

 

[m16ty]

Here in TN it was a good hay year last year. I like to get $50 a 4x5 roll or more but couldn’t move any at that price last year. Ended up going down to $40 to just move some. Still got about 1/2 of last year’s crop still in the barn.
This year is shaping up to be a bad hay year so far. Cool and dry spring. At least the first cutting is going to be short and thin. I don’t think I’m going to put up much this year and try to move what I’ve still got in the barn, hopefully for a better price.

 

[tom upton]

Rustred's reply in the thread below about fuel prices, where he noted grain prices haven't jumped has got me thinking more about something I've already been pondering.

With everything gone to heck in the world, fuel prices skyrocketing, fertilizer prices skyrocketing (and projected to go even higher over the coming months), what are your folks' thoughts about pricing your hay?

I sell most of the hay I do at the Southern farm. Admittedly not much, and I run a pretty antiquated operation down at that farm. Not sure I ever actually make any significant money (certainly not if I placed a decent value on my time), but it usually pays for itself, plus perhaps a little more if things are good. And I enjoy doing it, and it's good to add to the rotation. Folks this time of year are already asking me to allot some of this year's hay for them - as they always do this time of year. But I'm not sure I want to lock them in at set prices, because I'm not sure what those prices can/should be - nor what other prices in the area will be come haying season.

I've never been concerned about making much money at the hay I do down there - it's a pretty small part of my income stream. But I don't want to lose my shirt either. With fuel and fertilizer costs as they are, I wouldn't even come close to making profit at last years' rates. So I'm not sure what to charge, nor if I'd be out of line to increase prices. When I look at hay others are selling in the area, it's all for the same prices as last year. Now that is, of course, last years' hay. And I know there's going to be a lag between input costs and sale price increases. But I'm not sure what to anticipate, nor if others will be thinking like me.

So for those of you that sell hay (and don't mind sharing): Do you plan on increasing prices this year? By what percentage? Do you think your customers will baulk? I'm suspecting that the effects of today's fuel and fertilizer prices on commodities (and hay) will really only be felt in their full extent in about 8 months time. So should I just not commit to any sales for the next couple months, stick it all in the barn, and sell through the winter?

Any thoughts/opinions/wild speculation greatly welcome.

Daniel: I think the key thing for selling hay is to establish a customer base that buys around the same amount every year. As you know I have been selling hay now since the cattle left the farm 30 heck maybe its been 35 years now. I have managed to establish 7 customers that take pretty much the same amount every year. None of them have ever complained about the price. I do my darndest to get enough good small squares to keep them supplied as I would hate to lose any of them. Thru the years I have obviosly increased prices enough to keep up with the rising costs of inputs, but this year I plan on a significant increase. How much I havent figured out yet, but will certainly share with you when I do. If customer complains I dont think they are in touch with reality and I will just drop them and find somebody else. For big round bales I find that people are always looking for a deal, so much harder to establish loyal customers. For me it is pretty much impossible to turn a profit selling round bales. I guess that is the main reason I only round bale hay that I dont need for squares or if it gets rain. Hopefully we will get some heat soon so the darned hay will grow. Mine is nice and green from all the rain but we need some warm weather.