September 19, 2016 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Weekly Auction, Hay and Drought Report for Week Ending September 16th

MONTANA WEEKLY AUCTION REPORT | WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Market: Billings Livestock Commission, MT

Market: Public Auction Yards – Cattle, MT

Receipts: 3,012    Last Week: 1,892    Last Year 3,767

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle quality was mostly average on steers and average to attractive on heifers with a few tested open replacement quality heifers of very attractive quality. Yearlings offered mostly average weigh up conditions this week and light flesh as most offerings were coming straight off grass. Buyers remain cautious this week as they bid on offerings.

CME positions moved sideways throughout the week providing no real direction for feeder cattle buyers. Spring born feeder calves sold with mostly light demand this week. Quality on calves was average to attractive with several higher quality small packages on offer. With very few calves on offer and unpredictable weather conditions possible in the upcoming weeks, buyers seemed willing to pass on un-weaned calves coming straight off the cow, which made up the majority of sales this week. CME positions traded unevenly throughout the week, however prices were improved compared to last Thursday’s close. The September contract closed at 133.975, the October at 131.70 and the November contract closed at 129.325; 2.375, 3.20, and 3.05 higher respectively. The CME feeder cattle index settled Thursday at 133.49. Market activity this week was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand throughout the week on mostly light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger earlier in the week, however as the week progressed prices declined sharply. Slaughter cows sold steady to 5.00 lower, with instances of lower sales at times. Feeding cow buyers were mostly inactive this week. Feeding cows sold sharply lower as a result.

Several load lot packages of higher quality feeding type cows were on offer this week and despite their age buyers bid aggressively for these offerings. Packer buyers pushed one load of 8-12 year old aged high yielding cows to 68.00 before letting them go to a feeder. Weigh up conditions for cows were mostly average to below average this week, much like last week. Slaughter bulls can’t be trended due to the lack of the Miles City market this week. Quality this week was average to below average, with many full, cull bulls on offer. Offerings this week consisted of 62 feeder cattle, 14 percent slaughter cows, 7 percent slaughter bulls, 16 percent feeding cows and bulls and cows returning to the country, balance bred cows, heifers, and pairs.

Read more in USDA’s latest Montana Weekly Market Report.

NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Receipts: 153,000 (Auctions)   36,000 (Direct)   88,500 (Video/Internet) Total: 277,800

Last Week: 114,800 (Auctions) 23,400 (Direct)   18,400 (Video/Internet) Total: 156,600

Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, with instances 5.00-7.00 higher. Most advances were posted late in the week for feeders as cattle futures saw triple digit gains. Steer and heifer calves traded steady to 3.00 lower. Receipts increased as your sale barns were back on schedule after the holiday break. There was optimism as the CME live and feeder cattle futures had a three day rally, with live cattle closing on Friday at 107.87, up 92 points and feeder cattle at 133.25, up 1.55 on the October contract. A number of producers were cautious and stayed on the sidelines to see how the market would react after last week’s losses.

Some of the highest cattle in the country sold on Wednesday at the St Joseph Stockyards with a string of steers weighing 746 lbs selling at 154.25 and a part load weighing 760 lbs selling at 153.25. In Ogallala, NE on Thursday a consignment of 811 lb yearling steers brought 150.50. In the slaughter cattle arena the mood among producers was subdued as they proceeded with caution, given tough state of the market the past few weeks. Trade broke early Friday morning with talks of 170.00 dressed bids. As the morning and afternoon went on the trade developed into something feeders could smile about. In the southern plains live sales sold 5.00 higher at 110.00. In the Northern Plains live sales sold 3.00- 5.00 higher from 108.00-110.00. Dressed sales sold 4.00 higher 170.00. Packers have been very diligent in staying current to avoid backing into a corner. Some are hoping for higher money next week as some are holding onto a few pens just to test the market despite very good buyer inquiry.

Cool temperatures moved in across the Plains and Midwest making it feel more like fall. However, temperatures are expected to warm up in the 80’s. Such swings in temperature is always a concern, as it may make calves sick. Heavy rain also fell early on dumping anywhere from a few inches up to 11 inches, curtailing receipts in the affected regions. More moisture is expected throughout the weekend causing more havoc in saturated areas. Farmers in the southern Midwest have gotten an early start on the corn harvest, however, were delayed due to moisture. With the new crop season here, farmer feeders will begin to concentrate more on harvesting corn and soybeans. Auction volume this week included 44 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 41 percent heifers.

Read more from the USDA’s latest National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.

WEEKLY MONTANA HAY REPORT | WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 09, 2016

Compared to last week: Alfalfa hay sold fully steady this week. Demand and offerings were mostly moderate. Recent rains have helped improve range and pasture conditions across much of the southern half of the state. The worry of having to feed hay has subsided some as a result. Ranchers are continually buying hay for winter needs, however a large portion of ranchers have yet to purchase hay as many seem to be waiting to sell their calves and for prices to moderate some. Hay movement this week was light to moderate. Dairy hay sales continue to be light. Dairies continue to look for high testing hay, however this is in very light supply. Dairy hay sold this week was on the lower end of the dairy quality spectrum with most sales tested in the 155-180 RFV range and prices from 120.00-135.00. Grass hay sold fully steady this week as well. Demand was moderate to good this week as ranchers continue to buy for winter needs. All prices are dollars per ton and FOB unless otherwise noted.

  • Alfalfa:
    • Supreme: Small Squares, 200.00
    • Premium: Large Squares, 120.00 long haul
    • Good: Large Squares, 120.00-135.00; Large rounds, 125.00-135.00; Small Squares 140.00-180.00
    • Fair: Large Squares, 100.00-120.00; Large Rounds, 100.00-120.00
  • Grass/Alfalfa:
    • Premium: Large Rounds, 150.00; Small Squares 150.00-160.00
    • Good: Large Rounds, 120.00-140.00
    • Fair: Large Rounds, 115-120.00
  • Grass:
    • Premium: Large rounds, 120.00-140.00
    • Good: Large Squares, 110.00-120.00; Large Rounds, 110.00-120.00
    • Fair: Large Rounds, 100.00-105.00
  • Timothy Grass:
    • Premium: Small Squares, 210.00-240.00; Large Rounds, 120.00-125.00
    • Good: Large Rounds, 110.00-120.00
  • Barley Straw:
    • Large Squares, 35.00-40.00
    • Small Squares, 50.00

Read more from the USDA’s latest Weekly Montana Hay Report.

Drought Monitor Update | Week Ending September 16, 2016

Montana continues to see mostly dry conditions across the state with five counties in the south central and south east parts of the state seeing severe drought conditions. In severe drought areas local officials should have local drought planning efforts underway or should reconvene the local drought committee at the earliest opportunity. For more information and a list of resources available please click here.

drtstatus

June 20, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent, Montana Markets Week Ending June 20

Cattle on Feed – June 19

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on June 1, 2015. The inventory was 1 percent above June 1, 2014. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.71 million, 10 percent below 2014. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.71 million, 8 percent below 2014. May marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 82,000 during May, 19 percent below 2014.

Read more from the USDA’s June 20 Cattle on Feed report.

Montana Weekly Auction Summary for Week Ending June 20, 2015

Market: Billings Livestock Commission, Public Auction Yards

Receipts: 2,572; Last Week 2,924; Last Year NA

Compared to last week: Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested for an accurate market trend. Feeder cattle were of mostly average quality, with many plain made offerings. Demand for feeder cattle was good to very good on all offerings. Limited feeder availability has many buyers fighting over offerings causing limited sales to inch higher.

CME futures contract prices struggled throughout the week. August contracts closed down 1.975 at 221.925 and September closed down 1.675 to close at 220.275 as of Thursday night’s settlement. This didn’t slow down buyers across the country as the 7 day running average CME feeder cattle index closed at 225.73 as of Wednesday’s sales (the latest available settlement), which is a premium to the August CME contract.

Weigh-up cows sold with moderate demand this week on moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average with a few small strings of attractive cows. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested again this week to develop an accurate market trend, however unevenly steady undertones abounded throughout the week. Order buyers continue to sustain the market this week as demand for feeding, breeding, and grass cows helped hold prices fully steady. Packer buyers bought cows on increased demand from last week, however slaughter cows continue to sell with light demand.

Buyers searching for breeding stock purchased 2 year olds to young age cows on light to moderate demand this week. Heiferettes and young age cows sold steady to lower with many buyers taking a step back and filling orders on an as need basis. Many buyers picked through offerings and bid on only higher quality cattle causing wide price spreads within age groups. Cow/calf pairs sold on very good demand this week, with Billings Livestock offering around 500 head of pairs. Quality was mostly attractive with many ranchers in the stands actively bidding on offerings.

Read more from USDA’s June 19 Montana Weekly Auction Summary.

National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary – Week Ending June 19, 2015

Receipts This Week: 176,700 Total – 118,900 (Auctions); 54,800 (Direct); 3,000 (Video/Internet)

Compared to last week: yearling feeder cattle sold steady to 3.00 higher with steer and heifer calves trading steady to instances 5.00 higher on a light test throughout the Midwest. Demand was good for all classes of feeder cattle, with the possible exception of fleshy/short weaned steer calves weighing between 600-700 lbs. Feeder cattle continue to hold up remarkably well despite these bearish fundamentals with many farmer/feeders in the market and no shortage of grass out in the country.

Boxed-beef values have strengthened this week with the 4th of July just around the corner this should have retailers looking to fill shelves with Father’s Day this weekend hopefully will be good test for beef demand. Will cut-out values hold up into the summer months of July and August is a concern as usually beef demand has a tendency to be lackluster during this time period? Packers continue to keep slaughter levels small to help stabilize cut-out values and increase their margins rather than dip into the red to bid higher on slaughter cattle.

Tropical Storm Bill is adding much unwanted heavy rains to already saturated fields from east Texas up through the Ohio River Valley.  Corn is likely looking at acres that will be lost or limited in production which has supported corn and soybean prices this week.  Monday’s progress report had corn 91 percent emerged and 73 percent rated good to excellent.  Soybeans roughly have around 11 million acres left to be panted with around 7 million of those acres in states that are very wet.

  • Auction Receipts: 118,900; Last Week: 168,500; Last Year: 142,700
    • Montana 2,600. 74 pct over 600 lbs. 68 pct heifers.
    • Steers: Medium and Large 1 650-700 lbs (676) 256.80; pkg 835 lbs 220.00.
    • Heifers: Medium and Large 1 550-600 lbs (569) 256.53; 600-650 lbs (617) 246.51; half load 645 lbs 243.00; 700-750 lbs (740) 220.11; part load 870 lbs 197.00.

Read more from the USDA’s June 20 National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.

Weekly Montana Hay Report – June 19, 2015

Compared to last week: First cutting is under way as many farmers are trying to dodge rain showers in order to get first cutting down. Rain showers fell throughout much of the week in central and southern Montana, giving added moisture to pasture and range, but providing a slight nuisance to farmers trying to put up hay. Hay supplies are nearly depleted for all very high quality alfalfa hay. However, there remains some middle of the road old crop hay that continues to move at steady money. Demand for Alfalfa hay continues to be light.

This week the US drought monitor increased the land area in abnormally dry and moderate drought status. Most of this land is in the northwest and southwest corners of the state, where the western drought has inched its way east. Light demand was seen for grass hay marketed within the state as steady prices move hay on an as need basis. Good demand was seen for hay to ship to other areas of the country, particularly drier regions, both east and west.

  • Alfalfa:
    • Supreme: Small squares, 200.00
    • Good: Large squares, 120.00-130.00; Small squares, 138.00-150.00
    • Fair: Large squares, 90.00-130.00
  • Grass:
    • Good: Large Rounds, 90.00-100.00; New crop contract, 110.00-120.00; Large Squares, 100.00
  • Timothy Grass:
    • Premium: Small Squares, 240.00.
    • Good: Small Squares, 160.00-180.00.
  • Straw:
    • Large Squares and Rounds, 35.00-40.00

Read more from the USDA’s June 20 Weekly Montana Hay Report.

June 13, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Cattle Markets Week Ending June 13

Montana Weekly Auction Summary for Week Ending June 13, 2015

Market: Billings Livestock Commission, Miles City, Public Auction Yards

Receipts: 2,924; Last Week 3,312; Last Year NA

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested for an accurate market trend. Feeder cattle were of mostly average quality, with mostly plain made offerings. Demand for feeder cattle was good on all offerings. CME futures contract prices higher for the week with the August contract up 3.40 closing at 226.25 and September up 3.00 closing at 224.35 as of Thursday night’s settlement. The 7 day running average CME feeder cattle index closed at 225.74 as of Wednesday’s sales (the latest available settlement).

Weigh-up cows sold with light to moderate demand this week on moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested again this week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones abounded throughout the week. Feeding cow buyers helped sustain the market this week as demand for feeding and breeding cows helped hold prices fully steady. Feeding and breeding buyers sustained prices above where packers showed interest to purchase cows. This pushed packers to purchase older, lower yielding cows to complete their orders. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive with a few long strings of very attractive cows.

Buyers searching for breeding stock purchased 2 year olds to young age cows on very good demand this week. Heiferettes and young age cows sold sharply higher with many buyers looking for replacement cows to both ship to the southern plains as well as to rebreed and fill local pastures. Many of these fancy offerings sold for over 2,100.00 per head. Cow/calf pairs saw strong demand again this week. Notably, most offerings were of better quality this week than last.

Read more from USDA’s June 12 Montana Weekly Auction Summary.

National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary – Week Ending June 13, 2015

Receipts This Week: 162,400 Total – 104,000 (Auctions); 36,700 (Direct); 21,700 (Video/Internet)

Compared to last week: a good test of yearling feeder cattle sold steady to 3.00 higher with instances 5.00-7.00 higher from mid-week on.  Feeder cattle buyers continue to battle in the ultra-competitive yearling market; especially in the Southern Plains. Northern buyers continue to help drive the yearling market as last Friday, Fort Pierre Livestock Auction in Fort Pierre, SD sold near 11,000 head with almost 600 head of steers weighing 600-650 lbs sold with a weighted average weight of 615 lbs averaged 288.10 and over 1000 head of 900-950 lb steers averaging 929 lbs sold with a weighted average price of 215.01.

CME cattle futures rallied higher on Monday despite last week’s very limited to lower cash trade and again closed with strong gains on Tuesday as Boxed-beef values surged.  This week’s auction volume included 56 percent over 600 lbs and 39 percent heifers.

  • Auction Receipts: 168,500; Last Week: 153,900; Last Year: 154,8000
    • Montana 2,900. 45 pct over 600 lbs. 78 pct heifers.

Read more from the USDA’s June 12 National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.

Weekly Montana Hay Report – June 12, 2015

Compared to last week: Very little has changed this week as many farmers are in the fields cutting first cutting. Scattered rain showers on Wednesday rained on many fields of cut hay in the Yellowstone river valley, however much of the rest of the state was spared.

Contracts for dairy quality hay have yet to be made as many of the western diaries are waiting on first cutting to get a better feel of supplies. Demand for Alfalfa hay continues to be light. Scattered rain showers helped much of the state improve moisture conditions. This week the US drought monitor shrank the land area in Montana that was in “abnormally dry” status from 34 percent to 26 percent. Light demand was seen for grass hay marketed within the state as steady prices move hay on an as need basis. Good demand was seen for hay to ship to other areas of the country, particularly drier regions, both east and west.

  • Alfalfa:
    • Supreme: Small squares, 200.00
    • Premium: Large squares, 150.00-155.00
    • Good: Large squares, 120.00-130.00; Small squares, 138.00-150.00
    • Fair: Large squares, 90.00-130.00
  • Grass:
    • Good: Large Rounds, 90.00-100.00; New crop contract, 110.00-120.00; Large Squares, 100.00
  • Timothy Grass:
    • Premium: Small Squares, 240.00.
    • Good: Small Squares, 160.00-180.00.
  • Straw:
    • Large Squares and Rounds, 35.00-40.00

Read more from the USDA’s June 12 Weekly Montana Hay Report.

May 30, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Limited Cattle Offerings in Holiday Week – Montana Markets Week Ending May 30

Montana Weekly Auction Summary for Week Ending May 30, 2015

Market: Billings Livestock Commission, Miles City, Public Auction Yards

Receipts: 4,247; Last Week 2,606; Last Year NA

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week for an accurate market trend, however higher undertones abounded. Feeder cattle were of average to attractive quality this week, with a few consignments of very attractive cattle. Demand for feeder cattle this week was good to very good at times.

CME futures contract prices have gained every day since last Thursday. Starting Tuesday August contracts gained 5.35 to close at 224.95 and September gained 4.725 to close at 223.25 as of Thursday nights close. The 7 day running average CME feeder cattle index closed at 222.45 as of Wednesday’s sales (the latest available settlement). The CME index has trended higher all week as CME futures prices give support to buyers bidding in sale rings across the 12 state region.

Limited offerings of feeder cattle in recent weeks have buyers worried of the volume of cattle left in the country side and many bid accordingly pushing all feeders higher this week. Of note, some buyers this week were particularly aggressive in purchasing 600-750 lbs heifers and in many cases were willing to pay replacement price or even above replacement price in order to fill feedlot orders.

Weigh-up cows sold with good to very good demand this week on mostly moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on all classes offered this week. Feeding cows sold mostly firm. Weight-up cows are seeing demand from slaughter, replacement, and feeding cow buyers which has yet again pushed all cow prices higher. Packer buyers continue to buy cows to put on feed again this week as many are hoping to help curb shorted summer supplies.

Young aged 2-3 year olds sold sharply higher with many buyers looking for replacement cows to both ship to the southern plains as well as rebreed and fill local pastures. With heavy rainfall at times this week many buyers were very aggressive in bidding as pasture and range conditions are in great shape in and around the Yellowstone river valley. Cow/calf pairs saw much of the same strong demand as many local ranchers were in the stands this week actively bidding. Middle age (solid mouth) and aged (broken mouth) cows sold on the best demand again this week with ranchers searching for short keep cows to run on grass this summer.

Read more from USDA’s May 29 Montana Weekly Auction Summary.

National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary – Week Ending May 29, 2015

Receipts This Week: 162,400 Total – 104,000 (Auctions); 36,700 (Direct); 21,700 (Video/Internet)

Compared to last week, a light holiday test of yearlings and calves sold fully steady to 5.00 higher. The official start to the summer grilling season was followed by continued good demand for all classes and in many cases no signs of top-side pressure. Many major early–week auctions were idle this week, but buyers picked up where they left off at mid-week sales, as demand remains very good for calves and yearlings. Calve markets continue to trade on limited supplies with enough localized demand to offset supplies. The best advance continues to be on the heavier yearlings over 800 lbs as demand remains very good on yearlings.

  • Auction Receipts: 104,000 Last Week: 168,000 Last Year: 111,800
    • Montana 4,200. 78 pct over 600 lbs. 54 pct heifers.

Read more from the USDA’s May 29 National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.

 

Weekly Montana Hay Report – May 29, 2015

Compared to last week:  No changes were seen this week as farmers continue to wait on first cutting. No new contracts have yet to been seen for western dairy hay. Demand for Alfalfa hay is light on very light supplies. Many parts of central Montana received between 1.0 to 3.0 inches of additional rain this week which helped improve both pasture and range conditions as well as hay crop conditions.

Many ranchers in the Central and Eastern parts of the state have turned cattle out for the summer which has further lightened demand for grass hay. Ranchers buying hay to stock has slowed to a near halt with rain curbing drought concerns. Light demand was seen for grass hay marketed within the state, however steady prices continue to move light supplies. Good demand was seen for hay to ship to other areas of the country, particularly drier regions, both east and west.

  • Alfalfa
    • Supreme: Small squares, 200.00
    • Premium: Large squares, 150.00-155.00
    • Good: Large squares, 120.00
    • Small squares, 138.00-150.00
    • Fair: Large squares, 90.00-130.00
  • Grass:
    • Good: Large Rounds, 90.00-100.00;
    • New crop contract, 110.00-120.00; Large Squares, 100.00
  • Timothy Grass:
    • Premium: Small Squares, 240.00.
    • Good: Small Squares, 160.00-180.00.
  • Straw:
    • Large Squares and Rounds, 35.00-40.00.

Read more from the USDA’s May 29 Weekly Montana Hay Report.

May 23, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent, USDA Montana Reports Week Ending May 23

United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent

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Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on May 1, 2015. The inventory was 1 percent above May 1, 2014.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.55 million, 5 percent below 2014. Net placements were 1.48 million head.

During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000, 600-699 pounds were 240,000, 700-799 pounds were 348,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 640,000.

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Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.64 million, 8 percent below 2014. April marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 66,000 during April, 20 percent below 2014

Read more from the USDA’s May 22 Cattle on Feed report.

 

 

Montana Weekly Auction Summary for the week ending May 23, 2015

Market: Billings Livestock Commission, Miles City, Public Auction Yards

Receipts: 2,606; Last Week 5,452; Last Year 2,671

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this week for an accurate market trend. Feeder cattle were of mostly plain and average quality this week, with a few small packages of attractive cattle scattered throughout the sales. Demand for feeder cattle continues to be moderate to good, however demand for high quality feeders is good to very good on very light offerings.

Weigh-up cows sold with good to very good demand this week on mostly moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher on all classes of slaughtercows offered this week. Packer buyers continue to have to fight for offerings as buyers looking forcows to feed and breed push prices higher yet again this week. Quality this week was overall very good which gave buyers even more reason to fight over offerings.

Buyers searching for breeding stock purchased young aged cows on moderate to good demand this week. Young aged 2-3 year olds sold mostly higher with increased interest from all buyers. Feeding cows sold higher this week as well. Cow/calf pairs continue to be offered across the state. Most offerings sold with very good demand. Aged broken mouth cows sold on the best demand this week with many ranchers searching for short keep cows to run on grass this summer.

Read more from USDA’s May 23 Montana Weekly Auction Summary.

National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary – Week Ending May 22, 2015

Feeders this week total – 204,700; Included Auctions-168,000; Direct-29,900; Video/Internet-6,800.

Compared to last week, yearlings sold fully steady to 3.00 higher with instances 5.00 higher as advance continues to be on heavy yearlings over 800 lbs.  Demand remains very good on yearlings as the draw of steady fed cattle prices on light trade Wednesday in Kansas at 161.00 continues to bring additional interest back to feeder cattle.

Steer and heifer calves traded steady to instances 5.00 higher where tested (mostly throughout the Midwest).Production areas farther north and west simply don’t do enough fall calving to test the market this time of the year, and the old crop calves are long gone.

Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report had May 1 inventory at 101 percent; placements at 95 percent and marketings at 92 percent.  Inventory was close to expectations, with placements significantly smaller than expected and marketings close to expectations.  Corn and soybean planting have had one of the nicest planting starts in several seasons, as corn planting is now 85 percent complete ahead of the 5-year average of 75 percent. Soybeans are 45 percent planted ahead of the 5-year average of 36 percent.

Auction Receipts:  168,000   Last Week:  147,500   Last Year:  172,200

  • Montana 2,600.  89% over 600 lbs.  40% heifers.
    • Steers:  Medium and Large 1  700-750 lbs (736) 238.20; 750-800 lbs (778) 228.90.
    • Heifers:  Medium and Large 1  600-650 lbs (625) 236.91; 700-750 lbs (721) 216.21.
  • Video Internet Receipts:  6,800    Last Week:  29,600   Last Year:  38,000; (86% over 600 lbs, 20% heifers)
  • Western Video Market: 5,900.  86% over 600 lbs.  23% heifers.
    • Northcentral Region (CO-WY-NE-MT-ND-SD-IA)  Steers:  Medium and Large 1 Sep few loads 425 lbs 350.00.

Read more from the USDA’s May 22 National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.

Weekly Montana Hay Report

Compared to last week:  Very little change was seen in the hay market this week as farmers just wait on the new crop to come in. What little bit of hay moved was moved at steady money. Western dairies still have no new contract prices. Demand for Alfalfa hay is light on very light supplies.

Many parts of central Montana received between 1.5 to 3.0 inches of much needed rain last weekend, which was a welcomed sight for all hay farmers. This rain did help curb the worry of an all-out drought, as well as, curb some demand for ranchers buying hay to stock up in case of a drought.

In western Montana hay continues to be sold to cover needs until cows can be turned out. Central Montana range conditions improved drastically with the recent rainfall and many ranchers are busy turning out cows.

Additionally, new crop hay contracts continue to filter in with slightly lower prices since the last rain. Light demand was seen for grass hay marketed within the state. Good demand continues to be seen for hay to ship to other areas of the country.

  • Alfalfa:   Supreme:  Small squares, 200.00
    • Premium:  Large squares, 150.00-155.00
    • Good:     Large squares, 120.00
    • Small squares, 138.00-150.00
    • Fair:     Large squares, 90.00-130.00
  • Grass:  Good:  Large Rounds, 90.00-100.00; New crop contract, 110.00-120.00; Large Squares, 100.00
  • Timothy Grass:  Premium:  Small Squares, 240.00.  Good:  Small Squares,160.00-180.00.
  • Straw:  Large Squares and Rounds, 35.00-40.00.

Read more from the USDA’s May 22 Weekly Montana Hay Report.