Hay cost per ton in Vermont

Vermont's hay market is shaped by a compressed growing window and unpredictable summer rainfall. Most producers target a first cutting in early-to-mid June and a second cutting in late July or early August, with a possible third cutting on alfalfa stands in September. Per USDA AMS Northeast hay reports, large round bales of grass hay in the region trade in the $185-$260 per ton range in 2025, while premium small squares command $280-$340 per ton as horse owners compete with dairies for clean, dry forage.

Rainfall is the single biggest driver of quality and price. UVM Extension forage guidance notes that Vermont averages 40-45 inches of annual precipitation, much of it falling during the critical June cutting window, which frequently pushes first-cut hay past peak protein and fiber targets. Hay that gets rained on drops a full quality grade, which is why supreme dairy-quality alfalfa from barn-dried or wrapped operations can exceed $320 per ton according to USDA AMS 2025 Northeast summaries.

For a rancher budgeting winter feed, the per-cow math is concrete. A 1,200 lb beef cow eating roughly 25 lb of hay per day over a 180-day Vermont winter consumes about 4,500 lb, or 2.25 tons. At a mid-range grass hay price of $220 per ton from the 2025 USDA AMS Northeast report, that works out to roughly $495 per cow per winter, before waste. Factoring in the 15-20% feeding waste typical of round-bale ring feeders documented by UVM Extension, the true delivered cost climbs to $570-$595 per cow, which is why Vermont producers who bale their own forage hold a meaningful cost advantage over those buying in.