HayWire Weekly — Issue #6 Week of March 30, 2026 · 784 price records · 69 regions

🌾 FEATURED MARKET — Rock Valley Hay Auction · Data Partner
rockvalleyhay.com

• Alfalfa Premium/Supreme — Large Round: $205/ton
• Alfalfa Good/Premium — Large Round: $153/ton
• Alfalfa Fair/Good — Large Square 3x4: $118/ton
• Alfalfa Fair/Good — Large Round: $120/ton

Rock Valley is the most-watched hay auction in the upper Midwest. Prices this week signal strong spring demand — premium alfalfa is up significantly from last month.

🌽 MIDWEST AUCTION PRICES

Pipestone, MN — UP $41/ton from last week

• Alfalfa Good — Large Round: $150/ton
• Alfalfa Fair — Large Round: $78/ton
• Grass Good — Large Round: $105/ton
• Alfalfa/Grass Mix Fair — Large Round: $58/ton

Rock Valley, IA

• Alfalfa Premium/Supreme — Large Round: $205/ton
• Alfalfa Good/Premium — Large Round: $153/ton
• Alfalfa Fair/Good — Large Round: $120/ton
• Alfalfa Utility — Large Round: $83/ton

Dakota, SD

• Alfalfa Good — Large Round: $125/ton
• Alfalfa Fair — Large Round: $94/ton
• Alfalfa Fair — Large Square 3x4: $88/ton
• Brome Grass Good — Large Round: $118/ton

📊 ALFALFA GOOD — LARGE ROUND BENCHMARK

Nebraska - East: $78/ton
Nebraska - Central: $82/ton
Kansas: $90/ton
HPL Auction, IA: $100/ton
Dakota, SD: $125/ton
Pipestone, MN: $150/ton
Rock Valley, IA ⭐: $153/ton
Missouri: $162/ton
Oklahoma - Northeast: $183/ton
Shipshewana, IN: $327/ton
Topeka, IN: $365/ton

🗺️ NATIONAL SNAPSHOT — Highest Prices This Week

Shipshewana, IN — Alfalfa/Grass Mix Premium/Supreme Small Square: $370/ton
Topeka, IN — Alfalfa/Grass Mix Premium Large Square 3x4: $365/ton
Wolgemuth, PA — Alfalfa Premium Large Square 3x4: $333/ton
Wolgemuth, PA — Alfalfa Good Small Square: $290/ton

Pennsylvania and Indiana are operating in a completely different market. $370/ton in Indiana while Midwest averages are $125–153/ton. Same commodity, same week.


💡 THIS WEEK'S INSIGHT

Pipestone jumped $41/ton in one week. Watch it.

Last week Pipestone was at $109/ton. This week $150/ton. That's not noise — that's spring buying pressure hitting a market that was already below regional averages.

When Pipestone moves, Dakota and HPL tend to follow within 1–2 weeks. Rock Valley is already at $153/ton. If you're buying hay in MN, SD, or IA and you don't have your supply locked in, this week's data is a warning sign.

The Oklahoma drought alert from two weeks ago is starting to show up in prices nationally. 54% less hay volume in Oklahoma means buyers are looking north and west. That pressure lands in Midwest markets first.

Buy before June or pay more for it.


⚠️ MARKET ALERT — Oklahoma Supply Crunch

100% of Oklahoma is under drought. Volume this week: approximately 2,600 tons vs 5,600 tons same time last year — a 54% drop. Bermuda grass large rounds running $50–80/ton now. When summer demand hits, expect a spike. Buyers sourcing from Oklahoma should be covered before June.


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HayWire — USDA auction data, made readable. Every Tuesday morning.