Hay Report
Heath Dewey reports that compared to last week, hay trade activity and demand light.He's at the Greeley USDA Livestock, Poultry and Grains Market News office.
Northeast Colorado Areas
Alfalfa
Large Squares: Good 180.00.
Utility 165.00, DEL.
Mid Squares: Good 235.00, Retail/Stable.
Small Squares: Supreme 345.00 (9.50 per bale), Retail/Stable.
Alfalfa/Grass
Rounds: Premium 225.00, Retail/Stable.
Grass
Small Squares: Premium 400.00 (13.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
Timothy Grass Hay
Rounds: Premium 200.00, Retail/Stable.
No reported quotes for all other classes of hay.
Southeast Colorado Areas
Alfalfa
Mid Squares: Good/Premium 240.00, Retail/Stable.
Small Squares: Supreme 280.00 (9.00 per bale), Retail/Stable.
Haygrazer
Mid Squares: Good 180.00.
The US Drought monitor reports the region was mostly drier than normal a week ago, with only areas of the Dakotas, southeast Nebraska, and eastern portions of Colorado and Wyoming receiving slightly above normal precipitation.
The Colorado Climate Center says the Four Corners drought persists because it is a long term drought. Basin-wide reservoir storage at the end of December was 58% of normal in the Gunnison River Basin, and 56% of normal for southwest Colorado. Lake Powell and Lake Mead water supplies are low, same for groundwater storage in the San Luis Valley.
Currently and 27.1 percent of the state remains in extreme drought compared to 22 percent a month ago. 2.8 percent of the state is still in exceptional drought, that's down from 11.2 percent a month ago.