What hay sold for this week in 20 US states, per bale and per ton

Hay prices in Nebraska this week: per bale and per ton

Source: USDA AMS Nebraska Direct Hay Report, published Thu 8 Oct 2026, for the week ending 9 Oct 2026 (PDF). 19 price lines: 13 confirmed trades and 6 asking or offer prices, 1 of them priced per bale. Confirmed hay volume this week: 3,650 tons and 25 bales. The report splits the state into regions (Central, East, Platte Valley, West); the region is in the Notes column. USDA market comment: "Compared to the last report all reported forages sold steady. Demand was moderate to good. Alfalfa producers are on either fourth or fifth cutting with producers out west finishing up on third cutting. Some reports in the central area that third cutting alfalfa had more tonnage than first cutting did. Some reports of 1.5 tons per acre. Amazing what water and decent weather can do for a crop! Some producers are bailing cornstalk bales and are somewhat disappointed with the bales per pivot. Several bales less than most years for some reason. Fungus in the stalks is one reason for the lighter bales?" For scale, USDA NASS's monthly state average for August 2026 was $99.00/ton for all hay (alfalfa $104.00, other hay $88.00; US all hay $190.00) (NASS Agricultural Prices, 29 Sep 2026). Qty is tons for per-ton rows and bales for per-bale rows. Trade and Contract rows are confirmed sales; Ask and Offer rows are quoted prices, not sales.