WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 23, 2026
California prices strengthen in selected segments; Oregon movement slows
New California and Oregon reports update this week's read. Nevada and Idaho retain their October 16 summaries.
Reported facts: California · October 23
USDA describes good retail and dairy demand, with retail alfalfa higher in two regions and stock hay higher. USDA California report · October 23, 2026 ↗.
Read the full California summary →
Reported facts: Oregon · October 22
Bulk movement slowed while small-bale demand from stables remained strong. The source is dated October 22 for the week ending October 23. USDA Oregon report · October 22, 2026 ↗.
Read the full Oregon summary →
Nevada and Idaho · October 16 sources retained
No newer release was available in the current USDA links when checked. Their existing summaries and source dates are unchanged, not new-week observations.
- Nevada: good demand and steady movement · October 16 — USDA source
- Idaho: steady alfalfa prices and smaller loads · October 16 — USDA source
GB Hay interpretation
There is no single western hay price signal. Package, customer type and freight distinguish these markets. Quote by tested quality and delivery terms; do not apply retail changes to all dairy hay or interpret a smaller reported sample as a production estimate.
Watch whether California retail strength continues and whether Oregon buyers return for larger loads. These are questions to monitor, not forecasts.
Checked October 27, 2026. Primary sources: USDA AMS reports linked above. The legacy Western Forage site has no newer publication indicated by its site record; it was not updated. Report links roll forward, while these summaries retain their source dates. Confirm live bids before transacting.