# Hay cost per ton in Illinois

> Illinois hay prices in 2025 typically run $160-$240 per ton for large round grass/mixed bales, while premium and supreme alfalfa clears $220-$290 per ton. Drought years and tight first-cutting supplies push the top of the range higher.

**Headline:** $160-$240 per ton for large round bales, with premium alfalfa running $220-$290 per ton delivered

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (small square, delivered) | $240-$290 per ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (dairy quality) | $260-$310 per ton |
| Grass hay (mixed cool-season) | $140-$200 per ton |
| Mixed alfalfa-grass hay | $180-$240 per ton |
| Large round bale, grass (1,200 lb) | $90-$140 per bale ($150-$235/ton) |

## Detail

Illinois hay producers typically harvest three to four cuttings of alfalfa and two to three cuttings of cool-season grass hay between late May and early September. First cutting carries the largest tonnage but is the most vulnerable to rain damage, and according to the USDA AMS Illinois Direct Hay Report, rain-damaged first-cutting grass rounds trade $30-$60 per ton below clean hay of the same class, which is why storage-quality hay commands the $160-$240 per ton range quoted at the top of this page.

Rainfall patterns across central and southern Illinois average 36-42 inches per year, which is generous for growing forage but punishing on curing windows. When a wet June compresses the dry-down window, supreme dairy-quality alfalfa gets scarce and the USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary has shown supreme alfalfa in the eastern Corn Belt pushing toward $300 per ton in tight years. Southern Illinois producers also compete with Kentucky and Missouri buyers, which pulls round bale prices upward whenever drought hits the Ozarks.

For a rancher running mature 1,200 lb cows, University of Illinois Extension guidance on winter feeding pegs dry matter intake at roughly 2% of body weight, or about 24-25 lb of hay per cow per day once wastage is included. Over a 120-day Illinois winter feeding window that works out to roughly 1.5 tons of hay per cow, so at a mid-range grass hay price of $180 per ton the winter hay bill lands near $270 per head. Swap in premium alfalfa at $260 per ton and the same cow costs closer to $390 to overwinter, which is why most Illinois cow-calf operators lean on mixed grass rounds and reserve alfalfa for bred heifers and thin cows.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where are the main hay auctions in Illinois?

The USDA AMS Illinois Direct Hay Report aggregates sales statewide, and regional auctions in Arthur, Arcola, and central Illinois are the most-cited price discovery points for small squares and round bales.

### Why is Illinois hay often pricier than Missouri or Iowa?

Illinois dedicates most tillable acres to corn and soybeans, so hay ground is limited. Tight local supply plus strong dairy and horse demand in the Chicago and St. Louis metros keep Illinois prices at or above the Midwest average.

### When are Illinois hay prices usually lowest?

Prices typically soften in June and July right after first cutting, when barns are full and quality is high. The tightest, most expensive window is February-April as winter feeding draws down inventory.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS Illinois Direct Hay Report (2025) — https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/viewReport/2672
2. USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary (2025) — https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/viewReport/1964
3. University of Illinois Extension - Hay Market Outlook (2024) — https://extension.illinois.edu/livestock/hay-and-forage

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