Yield (all hay)3.65 tons/acre (2025)5-yr median 3.49 +4.6%
Yield (alfalfa)4.20 tons/acre (2025)5-yr median 3.50 +20.0%
Yield (grass)2.30 tons/acre (2025)5-yr median 2.40 -4.2%
Acres harvested1.06M acres (2026)5-yr median 1.01M +5.0%
Production3.69M tons (2025)5-yr median 3.58M +3.1%
On-farm stocks (May 1)690K tons (2026)5-yr median 455K +51.6%
On-farm stocks (Dec 1)2.76M tons (2025)5-yr median 2.48M +11.3%
Crop conditionweek ending 2026-05-1081% good or better
ALFALFA
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Supreme | Small Square | $9/bale | $9–$9/bale | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Good – Premium | Large Square 3x4 | $180/ton | $180–$180/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Good – Premium | Large Round | $181/ton | $181–$181/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Large Round | $151/ton | $151–$151/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Medium Square 3x3 | $155/ton | $155–$155/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Utility – Fair | Large Round | $135/ton | $135–$135/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Large Square 3x4 | $148/ton | $148–$148/ton | 1 |
ALFALFA-GRASS MIX
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Premium | Medium Square 3x3 | $240/ton | $240–$240/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Utility – Fair | Large Round | $115/ton | $115–$115/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Large Round | $148/ton | $148–$148/ton | 1 |
CROP RESIDUE
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Ungraded | Round (generic) | $59/ton | $59–$59/ton | 1 |
COOL-SEASON GRASS
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Fair | Large Round | $53/bale | $53–$53/bale | 1 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Premium | Small Square | $9/bale | $9–$9/bale | 2 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Good | Small Square | $200/ton | $200–$200/ton | 1 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Good | Small Square | $7/bale | $7–$7/bale | 1 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Good | Medium Square 3x3 | $80/bale | $80–$80/bale | 1 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Good | Large Round | $75/bale | $75–$75/bale | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Medium Square 3x3 | $168/ton | $168–$168/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Large Round | $153/ton | $153–$153/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Fair – Good | Large Square 3x4 | $166/ton | $166–$166/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Good – Premium | Large Round | $175/ton | $175–$175/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Utility – Fair | Large Round | $130/ton | $130–$130/ton | 1 |
| Rock Valley Hay Auction (Thur) - Rock Valley, IA | IA | Utility | Large Round | $107/ton | $107–$107/ton | 1 |
SMALL-GRAIN HAY
| Market | State | Grade | Bale | Median price | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Ungraded | Large Square (generic) | $180/ton | $180–$180/ton | 1 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Ungraded | Small Square | $7/bale | $7–$7/bale | 1 |
| Iowa Direct Hay Report | IA | Ungraded | Small Square | $225/ton | $225–$225/ton | 1 |