Dairy heifer and hay export volumes were lower in October.

Whether buying or selling hay, there’s plenty to unwrap as the calendar year comes to a close.

Dairy heifer and embryo and hay export totals were lower.

The 2022 hay crop has been made. Those marketing and moving it face plenty of challenges.

The most striking factors driving hay markets are related to alfalfa exports, domestic prices for dairy-quality hay and an early start to the supplemental feeding season in drought areas.

The Western drought sent regional hay prices higher, especially for dairy-quality hay. Demand from China pushed alfalfa exports to an 11-month high, but global sales of other hay continued to slump.

Elevated whey and lactose sales provided a boost to July’s global marketing volumes and values.