Bale sizes are different. In California you are typically seeing 3-wire bales weighing 110#-130#. Around here (in Kentucky) it rains all summer, so they make smaller square bales, 60# usually and they tend to use twine so the hay isn't packed as tight. The farmers around here won't have alfalfa hay, because it takes too long to dry. They have alfalfa/grass at about 50:50. Or grass/alfalfa at 90:10. And obviously grass hay. The square bales can usually be found for $4-$5 a bale around here, many of the farmers will deliver for nothing.

I have a 20 acre hay field that is fescue and red clover. It is great for goats and cows, but not for horses. So, I let the neighbor make the hay for himself and I get orchard grass/alfalfa bales from his hay fields.