# Hay cost per ton in Iowa

> Iowa hay prices in 2024-2025 generally run $140-$220 per ton for large round grass and mixed bales, while premium and supreme alfalfa trades $200-$290 per ton depending on cutting, RFV, and proximity to dairy buyers in northeast Iowa.

**Headline:** $140-$220 per ton for large round bales, with premium alfalfa running $200-$280 per ton

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (small square, RFV 170-185) | $220-$280 per ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (dairy quality, RFV 185+) | $250-$300 per ton |
| Grass hay (large round, good) | $120-$170 per ton |
| Mixed alfalfa-grass hay | $160-$210 per ton |
| Large round bale (1,200 lb, grass/mixed) | $85-$130 per bale |

## Detail

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.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where are the main Iowa hay auctions?

Dyersville, Rock Valley, Kalona, and Bloomfield run the largest weekly hay auctions and set regional price benchmarks reported by USDA AMS.

### When are Iowa hay prices lowest?

Prices typically bottom in July-August right after first and second cutting, then climb through winter as supplies tighten, peaking in February-March.

### Does Iowa import or export hay?

Iowa is a net exporter of alfalfa to dairy states like Wisconsin and to drought-affected regions in the Plains, which tightens local supply in dry years.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS Iowa Hay Summary (Rock Valley & Dyersville Auctions) (2024) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2288.pdf
2. Iowa State University Extension Ag Decision Maker - Hay Market Outlook (2024) — https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a1-26.html

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