# Hay cost per ton in Rhode Island

> Rhode Island hay runs roughly $185-$275 per ton for large round bales and $240-$360 per ton for small square bales delivered, with premium alfalfa from out-of-state suppliers pushing $320-$400 per ton.

**Headline:** $185-$275 per ton for large round bales, $240-$360 per ton for small squares (Rhode Island delivered, 2024-2025)

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (small square, delivered) | $320-$400 per ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (dairy quality) | $340-$420 per ton |
| Grass hay (timothy/orchardgrass) | $240-$320 per ton |
| Mixed grass-legume hay | $220-$300 per ton |
| Large round bale (4x5, grass) | $55-$85 per bale ($185-$275/ton) |

## Detail

Rhode Island is a net hay importer. USDA NASS reports New England states collectively harvest under 400,000 acres of hay, with Rhode Island contributing a small fraction, so most commercial hay moves in from New York and Pennsylvania. That freight tail is why RI barn-door prices for grass hay typically land $185-$275 per ton for large rounds, while comparable hay at the farm gate in central New York sells $40-$80 per ton cheaper in the same USDA AMS weekly summaries.

Local cuttings follow a predictable rhythm: first cutting in the last week of June, second cutting in mid-August, and a rare third in wet Septembers. Southern New England averages 44-48 inches of rainfall annually per NOAA norms referenced in UConn Extension forage guidance, which is enough to grow grass hay well but creates constant curing risk - rain-damaged first cutting routinely discounts $30-$50 per ton versus barn-dry hay in the same USDA AMS New England reports.

For a 1,200 lb beef cow eating roughly 25 lb of hay per day through a 150-day New England winter, that is 3,750 lb - about 1.9 tons per cow per winter before waste. At the RI midpoint of $230 per ton for round-bale grass hay from the 2024 USDA AMS weekly summaries, that pencils to roughly $430 per cow per winter; adding a typical 15-20% feeding waste pushes the real bill closer to $500-$520 per head, which is why most RI cow-calf operators stockpile July-August hay rather than buying into a tight March market.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is hay more expensive in Rhode Island than in the Midwest?

Rhode Island has limited hay acreage (under 10,000 acres harvested) and high land costs, so most hay is trucked in from New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Freight alone adds $40-$80 per ton versus farm-gate prices in producing states.

### When is the best time to buy hay in Rhode Island?

First cutting hits the market in late June and prices typically bottom in July-August. Buying on the barn floor right after baling saves $30-$60 per ton versus buying out of winter storage in January-March.

### How many cuttings do Rhode Island hay fields get per year?

Most RI grass hay fields yield two cuttings (June and August), with a light third cutting possible in wet years. Alfalfa stands can push three cuttings but are uncommon due to the acidic, rocky soils typical of southern New England.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary (2024) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lsbnhay.pdf
2. UConn Extension / New England Hay Market Report (2023) — https://cahnr.uconn.edu/extension/
3. USDA NASS New England Crop Production Annual (2023) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/New_England_includes/Publications/

---

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