# Hay cost per ton in Washington

> In Washington, alfalfa hay typically runs $220-$320 per ton depending on quality, while grass and mixed hay sell for roughly $160-$220 per ton. Large round bales trade at the lower end of those ranges.

**Headline:** $220-$320 per ton for alfalfa; $160-$220 per ton for grass hay (large bales, 2024-2025)

## Key Figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Premium alfalfa (small square, dairy) | $260-$320 per ton |
| Supreme alfalfa (export/dairy grade) | $280-$340 per ton |
| Grass hay (timothy/orchard) | $180-$240 per ton |
| Mixed grass-alfalfa | $190-$260 per ton |
| Large round bale (grass, feeder) | $140-$190 per ton |

## Detail

Washington's hay market is split between the irrigated Columbia Basin and Kittitas Valley on the east side - where three to four cuttings a year produce Supreme and Premium alfalfa and timothy - and the rain-soaked west side, where curing hay is difficult and most ranchers import feed. USDA AMS weekly reports in 2025 showed Columbia Basin Premium alfalfa trading in the $260-$320 per ton range, while grass hay settled around $180-$240 per ton.

Cutting schedule matters: first cutting in early June tends to be coarser and cheaper, second and third cuttings in July through September carry the highest relative feed value and command the top of the range, and a late fourth cutting (when weather allows) often moves at a discount. WSU Extension notes that east-of-the-Cascades growers average three to four cuttings, while west-side producers rarely get more than two clean cuttings because of persistent fall rainfall.

For a 1,200 lb dry beef cow eating roughly 25 lb of hay per day across a 120-day Washington winter feeding period, that is about 3,000 lb - or 1.5 tons - of hay per cow. At a mid-range grass hay price of $200 per ton (per 2025 USDA AMS Ellensburg quotes), the winter hay bill works out to roughly $300 per cow; substituting Premium alfalfa at $290 per ton pushes it to about $435 per cow before any freight or waste.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is Washington alfalfa often more expensive than other states?

The Columbia Basin produces export-quality timothy and alfalfa bound for Japan, South Korea, and the UAE, which pulls domestic prices upward, especially for Supreme and Premium grades.

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

Prices usually soften right after first cutting in June and again after third cutting in September, when supply peaks before winter demand kicks in.

### Does western Washington hay cost more than eastern Washington?

Yes. West-side rainfall makes curing hard, so most quality hay is trucked from the Columbia Basin or Kittitas Valley, adding $30-$60 per ton in freight.

## Sources

1. USDA AMS National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary (Columbia Basin and Ellensburg WA reports) (2025) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/hay-reports
2. WSU Extension - Hay Production and Marketing in Washington (2024) — https://extension.wsu.edu/publications/

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