National Summary – Hay:
- Again there has been very little change in the hay market this week, with trading remaining slow and prices unchanged in most regions.
- Generally speaking the start to the season has been a good one for most east coast regions, with good early pasture growth seeing hay demand lower than expected. The key exceptions to this are drier regions in the North, both QLD and Northern NSW where paddock feed is short.
- Both buyers and sellers are currently sitting out of the market watching how the season ahead unfolds.
- There is an ongoing trend across the country of high grade hay being difficult to source. Most high grade hay in storage is already under contract.
- Lucerne hay is in tight supply generally across Australia.
Northern Australia:
- Demand has slowed but remains steady. As it gets cooler there are some signs of demand picking up.
- Supplies of hay in Queensland and NSW are generally low. Cereal hay can be sourced from SA and Victoria but lucerne hay supplies are short in most regions.
- If the dry weather continues new season hay may start to come on the market as early as august.
- Lucerne supplies may stay tight into the new season unless there are increased allocations of irrigation water.
Southern Australia:
- Trading in southern regions remains slow, however continuing cold weather appears to be causing some interest in fodder locally, particularly cereal hay.
- Cereal hay supplies are good in Victoria and SA, and some hay is still moving north to meet the demand in Northern NSW and QLD. If both northern and local demand strengthens, supplies in the south may come under pressure later in the year.
- Prices have remained fairly steady this week with trading being slow.
- Crop reports throughout most of the region suggest that the potential is there for large fodder harvest this season.
Western Australia:
- The good start to the season has continued and accordingly demand is slow.
- The market for small squares of pasture hay is particularly tight this year.
- Straw supplies are above average and quality is good.
- Demand for hay has eased following good rainfall across Northern Australia.
- Hay supplies are very low after steady demand throughout the wet season.
- Both wet weather and cooler temperatures have slowed both the ongoing hay production and summer crop harvest.
- Rhodes grass: ($280-$300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Demand for fodder remains steady.
- Bulk paddock feed remains limited and demand is starting to pick up as the temperatures cool off.
- There are small amounts of hay being sourced from Victoria and Southern NSW to meet demand. This trade has eased considerably through the past few months.
- Cereal hay: ($350-$400/t). Cereal hay can be sourced from South Australia and Victoria where stocks are good. Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +$20 ($320-$370/t) . Lucerne hay supplies are low, with trading limited as a result. Tight supply has seen some increases this week.
- Straw: +10 ($210- $260/t). Stocks are low as most straw was moved earlier in the year. Some sorghum stubble can be sourced now but supplies won’t last long.
- Pasture hay: +$5 ($165-$185/t). Small quantities of pasture hay are available. Quality is low.
- Demand for hay is generally slow. Low cattle prices are seeing buyers hold off from purchasing fodder.
- Some paddock feed is available however as temperatures are cooling we expect demand for hay to increase.
- Generally hay supplies are very low and are expected to come under further pressure as demand picks up later in the year.
- Cereal Hay: ($300-$350/t). With local supplies low most cereal hay is being sourced from Victoria or South Australia, but this demand has slowed. Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: ($300-$400/t). Lucerne hay is very difficult to source and trading is limited as a result. The quality of lucerne that can be sourced is variable, hence the big variation in pricing.
- Straw: ($200-$250/t). Straw supplies are very low. Buyers seeking fibre to supplement the green pick may need to look for low-grade pasture hay as an alternative to straw.
- Pasture hay: ($200-220/t). Pasture hay is available in small quantities, however quality is low and prices remain steady due to limited trading.
- Due to favourable conditions through autumn and winter local demand has been slow.
- Hay supplies are tight right across NSW.
- With the exception of lucerne prices are unchanged this week due to the slow trading and small quantities of hay not under contract and available for trading. Lucerne price increases are driven by tight supply.
- Cereal hay: ($280-$300/t). Local cereal hay supplies are very low with trading limited as a result.
- Lucerne hay: +$10 ($340-$370/t). Continued interest for all grades of lucerne hay, particularly from Northern NSW cattle producers has driven continued price rises. Supplies are tight but some hay is available in Central West NSW.
- Straw: ($120-$140/t). Demand is slow at present but may pick up as temperatures cool off.
- Pasture hay: (220-$280/t). There are no reports of pasture hay trading this week due to low supply. There is continued demand for small squares to the pony club market.
- Steady increase in demand again this week, with cooler interest in hay increasing as winter sets in.
- There is particular interest in low-grade hay and straw for roughage.
- There is some silage being traded.
- Most hay is being sourced from Victoria. Hay supplies in NSW are very tight.
- Good hay is particularly hard to source at present.
- Cereal hay: Steady ($280-$300/t). Prices remain steady this week. Cereal hay can be sourced from Victoria.
- Lucerne Hay: Steady ($350-$400/t). The market for lucerne hay has picked up slightly but prices are firm due to tight supplies.
- Straw: ($180-$200/t). Demand for straw remains steady and supplies are starting to come under pressure.
- Pasture Hay: ($160-$180/t). Trading is starting to pick up for both hay and silage as farmers own supplies start to run low.
- Growing conditions to date have seen good paddock feed availability across the GV, seeing buyers opting to use their own feed before purchasing fodder.
- The recent wet and cold conditions are likely to drive demand in the coming weeks, with particular interest in cereal hay.
- Good quality hay of any variety is becoming difficult source.
- Cereal hay: ($180-$220/t). While trading is limited there continued reports of some hay moving north. Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: ($280-$320/t). Trading is slow due to limited supply, and supplies will remain tight throughout winter.
- Straw: ($90-$110/t). Prices remain unchanged this week. There has been some straw trading over the past few weeks, but supplies could come under pressure later in the year.
- Pasture hay: ($150-$200/t). There are some reports of small quantities of pasture hay moving between farms. This is driven by farmers sourcing low cost fodder and growers trying to shift excess supply of low-grade hay.
- Demand remains slow due to unseasonably warm temperatures and good availability of paddock feed. Buyers are currently utilising their own feed supplies before purchasing fodder.
- Cold weather over the past week may drive demand however if the trend of warmer temperatures and intermittent rain continues through winter there may be an unusually low demand for fodder this year.
- Cereal hay: ($240-$260/t). Prices have been softening in Northern and Western Victoria and therefore delivered prices to Gippsland eased slightly this week. Supplies are good in Northern and Western Victoria..
- Lucerne hay: +10 ($310-$330/t). Supply is low throughout Victoria. Vetch is difficult to source and where it can be found quality is variable.
- Straw: +10 ($110-$130/t). Some straw is available in Gippsland but quality is variable. Gippsland buyers seeking straw are sourcing it from North Central and Western Victoria, with straw from these regions being priced higher due to freight.
- Pasture hay: ($180-$220/t). Demand is slow due to good supplies on farm locally. There is a small amount of trade between farms.
- Demand for hay is slow with limited trading reported this week and prices remaining steady. Most buyers are opting to utilise pastures and their own fodder supplies rather than buying in hay.
- Cereal hay: ($160-$180/t). There are good stocks of cereal hay still available in North Western Victoria but quality varies.
- Lucerne hay: ($250-$280/t). In general supplies are much lower than usual for this time of year and will be tight through winter.
- Straw: ($110-$120/t). Prices and demand remain steady this week. Some straw is available locally and quality is variable.
- Pasture hay: ($160-$180/t). There are still good supplies of pasture hay available locally but high grade pasture and clover hay is difficult to source.
- Trading remains slower than expected, a situation not likely to change until the weather cools off.
- Like Victoria most buyers are opting to use pastures and their own fodder supplies before buying hay.
- High quality hay of most varieties is becoming difficult to source.
- Cereal Hay: ($135 -$145/t). Slow trading again this week, no price changes.
- Lucerne: ($280 – $300/t). Prices remain steady as trading is slow. Supplies are limited.
- Straw: ($105-$115/t). Straw supplies are low.
- Pasture Hay: ($135-$155/t). There has been limited trading of pasture hay of late, with prices remaining steady.
- Demand remains slow this week.
- Demand from northern buyers has stayed slow over the past week but pick up in the coming weeks as the tough season in QLD and Northern NSW continues.
- Cereal Hay: ($150-$200/t). Prices remained steady this week due to minimal trading.
- Lucerne hay: ($300-$330/t). Supplies are low and lucerne is being sourced from outside the region to meet demand.
- Straw: ($120- $130/t). There has been little movement in price over the past month. Supplies are good and demand is slow at present.
- Pasture hay: No reported trading of pasture hay.
- Hay trading on the domestic market remains slow. There is some demand for roughage from the dairy sector.
- Good quality hay in small squares is sought after by the horse and hobby farmer markets but is becoming difficult to source.
- Cereal hay: ($160-$200/t). Supplies of cereal hay are good this year with mid-grade hay is readily available.
- Lucerne hay: ($500-$550/t). There is limited lucerne hay available and therefore limited trading.
- Straw: Steady ($85-$115/t). Prices remain steady.
- Pasture hay: Strong demand for hay earlier in the year is impacting on supply. Supplies are very tight and there was no reported trading of pasture hay this week.
- With good paddock feed available the hay market has been slow coming into winter but is starting to pick up.
- There is particular interest in silage from the dairy and livestock producers. 2013/2014 was a good year for silage production and supplies are good.
- There are also reports of silage being traded.
- Quality hay is in short supply in particular lucerne hay is hard to source.
- Cereal hay: ($220-$240/t). There are limited reports of trading. Supplies are low and quality is variable.
- Lucerne hay: ($300-$350/t). Demand is steady and supplies are low. Sourcing lucerne hay will be difficult throughout winter.
- Straw: ($140-$160). There is some interest in straw from the dairy industry, generally trading remains steady.
- Pasture hay: ($180-$200/t). Demand is now starting to pick up and supplies are good. Quality is variable due to the patchy weather conditions during the hay season.