# Hay cost per ton in South Carolina

> South Carolina grass hay typically runs $185-$245 per ton for large round bales, while premium alfalfa imported from the Midwest lands at $320-$400 per ton delivered. Bermudagrass and fescue dominate local supply.

**Headline:** $185-$245 per ton for large round bales, grass hay, delivered in South Carolina

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (imported, delivered) | $320-$400 per ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (dairy quality, imported) | $380-$460 per ton |
| Grass hay (bermudagrass/fescue) | $160-$220 per ton |
| Mixed grass-legume hay | $200-$270 per ton |
| Large round bale (4x5, ~1,000 lb, grass) | $65-$110 per bale |

## Detail

South Carolina hay production is dominated by warm-season bermudagrass in the Coastal Plain and cool-season tall fescue in the Piedmont and Upstate, with most operations taking 3 to 5 cuttings between May and October according to Clemson Extension forage guidance. Annual rainfall of 45-52 inches across the state supports strong yields but complicates curing, which is why baleage and large round bales are the dominant package formats rather than small squares.

Grass hay grown in-state typically moves at $160-$220 per ton in ton-equivalent pricing, with 4x5 round bales weighing roughly 1,000 pounds selling for $65-$110 each depending on cutting quality and location, per USDA AMS regional hay market summaries. Alfalfa and supreme dairy-grade hay are almost entirely imported from Kentucky, Missouri, and points west, pushing delivered prices into the $320-$460 per ton range as tracked in the USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary.

For a 1,200 lb beef cow consuming roughly 25 lb of hay per day through a 120-day South Carolina winter (December through March), total intake works out to 3,000 lb, or 1.5 tons per head. At the midpoint grass hay price of about $200 per ton, that is roughly $300 per cow per winter in hay alone; a 50-head cow-calf operation should budget $15,000 for winter forage before factoring in waste, which Clemson Extension notes can run 20-40% with unrolled round bales versus under 10% with ring feeders.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is alfalfa so expensive in South Carolina?

South Carolina's humid climate and acidic soils make alfalfa hard to cure and grow locally, so nearly all supreme alfalfa is trucked in from the Midwest or Western states, adding $80-$120 per ton in freight.

### When is hay cheapest to buy in SC?

Prices are lowest June through August during the second and third bermudagrass cuttings. By January-March, stored hay commands a 15-25% premium as barns empty out.

### What hay is grown locally in South Carolina?

Coastal and Tifton bermudagrass dominate the Midlands and Lowcountry, while tall fescue is common in the Upstate. Most producers take 3-5 cuttings per season from May through October.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary (2025) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lswhay.pdf
2. Clemson Cooperative Extension - Forage and Hay Production in South Carolina (2024) — https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/forage-and-hay-production-in-south-carolina/
3. USDA NASS South Carolina Crop Production Annual Summary (2024) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/South_Carolina/

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