# Hay cost per ton in Arkansas

> Arkansas hay runs roughly $120-$220 per ton in 2025, with common bermudagrass round bales near $80-$120 and premium alfalfa (trucked in from OK/KS) reaching $260-$320 per ton delivered.

**Headline:** $120-$220 per ton, large round bales delivered in-state

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (small square, delivered) | $280-$340/ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (dairy quality) | $300-$360/ton |
| Grass hay (bermudagrass, good) | $120-$180/ton |
| Mixed grass hay (fair-good) | $100-$160/ton |
| Large round bale (4x5, bermudagrass) | $55-$90 per bale ($110-$180/ton) |

## Detail

Arkansas hay pricing in 2025 sits in a $120-$220/ton band for the bermudagrass and mixed-grass round bales that dominate the state's forage market, according to USDA AMS Arkansas weekly hay summaries. Premium and supreme alfalfa, almost entirely imported from Oklahoma and Kansas, trades $280-$360/ton delivered because Arkansas's humid summers make on-farm alfalfa curing unreliable, per University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension forage guidance.

Most Arkansas producers take two to three bermudagrass cuttings between late May and early September, with a possible fourth cutting in the southern tier when rainfall cooperates. The state averages 48-55 inches of annual rainfall, concentrated in spring and fall, which is excellent for grass tonnage but punishes hay quality when rain hits windrows - Extension data shows a single rain event on cut hay can knock 15-20% off relative feed value and push a lot from 'good' to 'fair' pricing tiers.

Translating these prices to a real winter bill: a 1,200 lb cow consumes roughly 2-2.5% of body weight in dry matter, or about 25 lb of hay per day. Over a typical 120-day Arkansas winter feeding window (mid-November through mid-March), that is 3,000 lb - roughly 1.5 tons - per cow. At the midpoint grass hay price of $150/ton, winter hay alone runs about $225 per head, and a 50-cow operation is looking at an $11,000-$13,500 hay bill before factoring in waste, which Extension trials show ranges from 6% with ring feeders to over 40% with unrolled bales.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is alfalfa more expensive in Arkansas than neighboring states?

Arkansas humidity makes alfalfa curing difficult, so most supreme and premium alfalfa is trucked in from Oklahoma, Kansas, or Missouri, adding $40-$60/ton in freight.

### When are hay prices lowest in Arkansas?

Prices typically bottom in June-July right after first cutting of bermudagrass, then climb 15-25% through winter as supplies tighten, peaking in February-March.

### How many round bales does one cow need for an Arkansas winter?

A 1200 lb cow eating 25 lb/day needs about 3,000 lb over a 120-day winter feeding window, or roughly 3-4 typical 900-1000 lb round bales per head.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS Arkansas Hay Weekly Summary (2025) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3664.pdf
2. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension - Forage and Hay Production (2024) — https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/crops-commercial-horticulture/forage/
3. USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Report (2025) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/hay-reports

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Source: Vellum — https://vellum.app/hay-cost-per-ton/arkansas