Hay cost per ton in Iowa

Iowa producers typically take three cuttings of alfalfa per year, with first cutting in late May, second in early July, and third in mid-August; a fourth cutting is possible in southern Iowa in favorable years. Rock Valley and Dyersville auction reports from USDA AMS in 2024 show large round grass bales trading in the $120-$170 per ton range while premium small square alfalfa moved at $220-$280 per ton.

Rainfall averages 32-38 inches across Iowa, which supports reliable grass and alfalfa yields but also raises the risk of rain-damaged first cuttings that drop into the 'fair' or 'utility' grade, where 2024 USDA AMS reports showed discounts of $40-$60 per ton versus good quality. Northeast Iowa's dairy corridor pulls supreme alfalfa (RFV 185+) up to $250-$300 per ton, the top of the state range.

A 1,200 lb dry cow consuming roughly 25 lb of hay per day, per Iowa State Extension feeding guidance, eats about 0.75 tons over a 60-day winter feeding window and roughly 1.5 tons over a 120-day Iowa winter. At a midpoint grass hay price near $150 per ton from 2024 AMS Iowa summaries, that works out to roughly $112 per cow for a 60-day feeding period and about $225 per cow for a typical 120-day winter, before accounting for feeding waste which Iowa State Extension estimates at 15-25 percent for unprotected round bales.