By Andi Anderson
The latest Hay Market Report for the Upper Midwest, released on October 13, 2026, provides an overview of current hay prices across Wisconsin and neighboring states. The report was compiled by Melissa Ohlrich, Crops and Soils Educator for Clark and Marathon Counties, UW-Madison Division of Extension, using information gathered from both public and private hay sales.
The market report focuses on two major forage categories: alfalfa hay and grass hay. Alfalfa hay prices may also include alfalfa-grass mixtures. All reported values are based on hay sold on an as-fed basis rather than a dry matter basis. Data collection takes place twice each month, allowing farmers and livestock producers to monitor changing market conditions.
According to the report, premium-quality alfalfa hay continued to command the highest prices in the market. Prime alfalfa hay with a Relative Feed Value or Relative Forage Quality above 151 sold for an average of $348 per ton in small square bales. Large square bales averaged $237 per ton, while large round bales averaged $204 per ton. Premium hay remains in strong demand because of its nutritional value for livestock operations.
Grade 1 alfalfa hay, with a Relative Feed Value or Relative Forage Quality ranging from 125 to 150, showed more moderate pricing. Large square bales averaged $125 per ton, while large round bales averaged $126 per ton. Limited sales activity was reported for some bale sizes, resulting in incomplete market information for several categories.
Grass hay prices also reflected quality differences. Prime grass hay averaged $288 per ton for small square bales. Large square bales averaged $143 per ton, while large round bales averaged $161 per ton. Grade 1 grass hay large round bales averaged $118 per ton, with reported values ranging from $90 to $140 per ton.
Lower-quality Grade 2 grass hay recorded the lowest prices in the report. Large round bales averaged $50 per ton, indicating reduced demand compared with higher-quality forage products.
The report notes that blank spaces in the pricing table indicate that no sales were reported during the reporting period. In some situations, only average sale values were available, and minimum or maximum prices were not reported. Market values shown in the report represent averages from multiple sales transactions rather than individual sales.
This latest hay market information provides farmers, livestock producers, and agricultural businesses with a useful snapshot of forage prices across the Upper Midwest. By monitoring these trends, producers can better plan purchases, sales, and feed management decisions throughout the season.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ianchrisgraham
Categories: Ohio, Crops, Hay & Forage