Not much supporting a 2026 hay price rebound

History tells us that nearly all markets go through boom-and-bust phases, unless those markets are artificially controlled by the government or with some other means. The interesting thing is that whatever phase is currently prevailing, we think and operate as if it will be a permanent fixture.

We see this same phenomenon occur with sports teams, especially baseball. Our opinions and prediction of a season’s outcome often hinge on whether the team is on a six-game winning streak or six-game losing streak within the 162-game schedule. It’s crazy, but I guess it can simply be chalked up to human nature.

Exactly three years ago, I wrote an article titled “Will hay prices turn south in 2023?” We had just come through a banner hay-price year when the average alfalfa price for all qualities broke through $280 per ton. Alfalfa and other hay exports were at or near record levels as we recovered from a crippling pandemic. It was a good time to be a commercial hay producer, even if input costs had also taken a considerable jump in previous years.

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Dec. 30 2025 08:00 AM

By Mike Rankin

hayandforage.com