# Hay cost per ton in North Dakota

> North Dakota hay runs roughly $140-$210 per ton for grass and mixed large round bales, with premium and supreme alfalfa small squares reaching $220-$280 per ton delivered, per USDA AMS Bismarck Hay Market Reports.

**Headline:** $140-$210 per ton for large round bales, grass and mixed hay (ND, 2024-2025)

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (large square) | $200-$260/ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (small square, dairy) | $240-$300/ton |
| Grass hay (large round) | $120-$180/ton |
| Mixed alfalfa-grass hay | $150-$210/ton |
| Large round bale (1,200 lb, grass) | $80-$120 per bale |

## Detail

North Dakota producers typically get two cuttings of alfalfa and one to two cuttings of grass or mixed hay, with first cutting in mid-June and second in late August. USDA AMS Bismarck reports for 2024 placed grass large round bales at $120-$180 per ton and premium alfalfa large squares at $200-$260 per ton, with supreme dairy-quality small squares reaching $240-$300 per ton when available.

Rainfall drives everything. The 2021 drought pushed ND grass hay above $200 per ton and forced emergency CRP haying, while normal-moisture years like 2023 and 2024 returned prices to the $120-$180 per ton band for round-baled grass, according to USDA AMS weekly summaries. Western counties on native range consistently price $20-$40 per ton below the Red River Valley, where hay ground competes with corn and soybeans.

For a 1,200 lb beef cow eating roughly 25 lb of hay per day across a 180-day ND winter, that is 4,500 lb (2.25 tons) per cow. At the midpoint grass hay price of $150 per ton from USDA AMS 2024 Bismarck reports, winter hay alone runs about $338 per cow, or roughly $34,000 to feed a 100-head herd before supplement, mineral, or waste (NDSU Extension estimates feeding waste at 15-25% for unrolled round bales, which can add another $50-$85 per cow).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is western North Dakota hay usually cheaper than eastern ND?

Western ND has more native range and larger round-bale grass hay supply, while the Red River Valley east side competes with row crops, tightening supply and lifting prices per USDA AMS Bismarck reports.

### When are ND hay prices lowest?

Prices typically bottom in August-September right after second cutting when supply peaks, and climb 15-25% by February-March as winter feeding depletes stocks, according to NDSU Extension market commentary.

### How does drought affect ND hay prices?

The 2021 drought pushed ND grass hay above $200/ton and triggered emergency CRP haying; normal-rainfall years like 2023-2024 brought prices back toward the $120-$180/ton range per USDA AMS.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS Bismarck, ND Hay Market Report (2024) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2680.pdf
2. NDSU Extension - Hay Costs and Winter Feeding Cow Herds (2023) — https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/hay-costs-winter-feeding
3. USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary (2025-Q1) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lswhay.pdf

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