# Hay cost per ton in Utah

> Utah hay runs roughly $200-$280/ton for premium alfalfa and $150-$190/ton for grass hay in 2025, with large round bales trading around $140-$180/ton depending on cutting, protein, and distance from the Intermountain hay belt.

**Headline:** $200-$280 per ton for premium alfalfa; $150-$190 per ton for grass hay (Utah, 2025)

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (small square, dairy-quality) | $240-$280/ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (>22% CP, <27% ADF) | $260-$310/ton |
| Grass hay (timothy/orchard mix) | $150-$190/ton |
| Mixed alfalfa-grass hay | $180-$220/ton |
| Large round bales (feeder-grade alfalfa) | $140-$180/ton |

## Detail

Utah is one of the top ten alfalfa-producing states in the US, and the USDA AMS Utah Weekly Hay Report consistently prices premium alfalfa between $200 and $280 per ton at the stack in 2025, with supreme dairy-quality lots pulling $260-$310. Grass and mixed hay trade at a discount, typically $150-$220 per ton, because the state's dairy and export demand is anchored to alfalfa protein content rather than forage bulk.

Cutting schedules drive a lot of the price variation. Utah State University Extension reports that northern Utah growers in Cache and Box Elder counties generally take three cuttings per season, while southern valleys take four thanks to a longer frost-free window. Rainfall is sparse — most alfalfa acres are pivot- or flood-irrigated from snowpack — so rain-damaged hay discounts are less common than in the Midwest, but a wet June can knock first cutting from supreme down to good and strip $40-$60/ton off the value.

For a 1,200 lb beef cow eating roughly 25 lb of hay per day over a 120-day Utah winter feeding window, total consumption is about 3,000 lb, or 1.5 tons per cow. At a mid-range grass-hay price of $170/ton that works out to roughly $255 per cow per winter; at premium alfalfa prices near $260/ton, the same cow costs closer to $390. USDA NASS Utah production figures show why ranchers in Millard and Sanpete counties typically blend alfalfa with cheaper grass hay — the blend keeps protein adequate for a dry cow while trimming the per-head winter feed bill by $100 or more.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is Utah hay cheaper than hay in neighboring states?

Utah is a net hay exporter. The Intermountain region, especially the Delta/Millard County corridor, produces surplus alfalfa that depresses local farm-gate prices relative to California, Nevada, and Arizona buyers who pay freight on top.

### When are hay prices lowest in Utah?

Prices typically bottom in July-August right after second cutting when supply peaks, and climb through winter. Buying directly from the stack in summer can save $30-$60/ton versus February delivered prices.

### How many cuttings do Utah alfalfa growers get per year?

Most northern Utah growers get 3 cuttings; southern Utah and warmer valleys like Washington County often get 4. Second and third cuttings generally test highest for dairy-quality protein.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS Utah Weekly Hay Report (2025) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_2868.pdf
2. Utah State University Extension — Hay Production and Marketing (2024) — https://extension.usu.edu/crops/research/hay-production-utah
3. USDA NASS Utah Agricultural Statistics — Hay (2024) — https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Utah/

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