Alfalfa prices

[SheepGirl]

At Petsmart, they sell alfalfa "mini bales" that weigh 24 oz which cost $4.99. That is $1.50 per pound. WAYYY expensive! I always think of how much people without a source of hay get robbed every time they purchase hay in packages like this.

Prices for hay at the Westminster Hay Sale/Auction are:
Alfalfa: $5.10-$7.60/bale
Alfalfa mix: $4.20-$7/bale
Timothy: $4.60-$8.90/bale
Timothy large square: $40/each
Timothy mix: $2.55-$6.60/bale
Grass mix: $2.60-$8.10/bale
Grass mix round bales: $35-$57.50 each

Don't know how much bales weigh, but they all likely weigh at least 35-40 lbs. Sometimes we are able to get hay cheaper direct from a farmer, but only if we buy big lots. And since we only have a few sheep now and only need a few bales at a time, it costs $5 per bale for a small bale that weighs ~35 lbs (about $0.15/lb).

ETA: The bales at TSC that I've seen go for $16-18 weigh 50 lbs, which is about $0.32/lb. Not too good of a price, but better than Petsmart.

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

I got a full bale of alfalfa at the local feed store (N. California) for $19.99. I was pretty shocked since I haven't gotten hay since last year. They were running pretty low too. Its probably 100+ lbs. I can probably find it cheaper out in the farming and orchard towns nearby and will do that next time. I don't think I'll go through it that fast though and it's indoors too.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I paid 16.50 I think for the last couple of bales, but around now we creep up to 18 or 19 since supply gets low. We are in central california.

 

[ksalvagno]

My hay guy charged $6.50 per square bale (about 60 lbs) and it didn't matter if it was grass, grass/alfalfa mix or alfalfa. He actually told me that grass hay takes a lot more because there are no stems and it takes more acreage to make a bale of grass hay compared to a bale of alfalfa hay. His grass hay is beautiful grass hay though and not one stem in it.

 

[KinderKorner]

Wow I almost feel bad for complaining about my hay prices.

I'm paying $3.50 for grass, and $4 for alfalfa. 45# bales. Not real great stuff, just average.

I think thats crazy though, because a couple years ago I used to get it for $2.50 a bale for like 70# bales.

I can't imainge paying $10+ a bale.
I can barely afford the animals now, no way could I afford them at that price. Horses eat a ton!

I live in prime hay country, and I have trouble locating good hay. I'm sure its worse in the dry states. eek.

I pay right around $10 a bag for grain. 50#

 

[77Herford]

WOW! I thought the $4 a small bale it is going for here was bad. That is 40-50 lb bales. Where are you and how big are the bales?

These threads are great in that we can all get an idea of what is going on where.

I got mixed grass from my hay guy for $3 and alfalfa for $3.50. I think that is because I have been a regualr customer for years and buy 200-300 bales. CL has been showing $4-$5 for alfalfa or mix and $4 for mixed grass.

I saw alfalfa bales in TS for $16 for a tiny little bale, about 20 lbs and wondered who on earth would pay that?

OMG I would kill for those low prices. Luckily I use mostly my own hay but do buy Alfalfa bales for the Goats and they are around 80 pound square bales and cost from 10 -16 dollars a bale.

 

[Vumani]

I live in southeast Idaho and bought alfalfa hay for $6.00 a bale for 65# bales just this last weekend. It was high quality hay certified weed free and very leafy. Last year I could buy the same thing for $3.00 from the same farmer. I am hoping this next year goes back down as obviously many of you do!

 

[Chirpy]

Wow also! Some of those prices are great... wish it was that way around here.

Alfalfa small bales (a person can lift themself) are $10 to $12. You can find some for a little less if you buy by the semi load.

Grass and grass/alfalfa mix small bales start about $9 and go up according to quality and size of load also.

I'm thrilled that I shared a semi load last summer and got my alfalfa bales for $6 each. I've got plenty to get me through the winter and even sell some to help with bills.

 

[kayzee]

I'm in Southern Arizona, the last small bales of Alfalfa we bought were 18.50 per bale. There's not a lot of land devoted to alfalfa, and it takes a lot of water, but they grow it almost year 'round and cut it nine times a year...seems like that might take the price down a little, but that's just wishful thinking. We don't have any pasture here, this is strictly desert, so what we feed is what we buy.

 

[mama24]

We don't even have alfalfa for sale anymore around here. Hay goes for $3-4 a small square bale from a farmer, $8 at the feed store, right now. When Alfalfa was still available in early fall, it was $8 from a farmer and $12 at the feed store.