Table of Contents
- Atherton Tablelands – Hay Commentary
- Darling Downs – Hay Commentary
- North Coast NSW – Hay Commentary
- Central West NSW – Hay Commentary
- Bega Valley – Hay Commentary
- Goulburn / Murray Valley – Hay Commentary
- Gippsland – Hay Commentary
- South West Vic – Hay Commentary
- South East SA – Hay Commentary
- Central SA – Hay Commentary
- South West WA – Hay Commentary
- North West Tasmania – Hay Commentary
This report has been commissioned by Dairy Australia to provide an independent and timely assessment of hay markets in each dairying region across Australia. It should be remembered that actual prices might vary for quality or other reasons. All prices are quoted ass delivered to the region based on reported hay trading. Prices are exclusive of GST.
National Summary – Hay:
- Very little movement in hay prices across the country this week, with both hay growers and buyers looking to the new season’s harvest with interest. This is seeing both opportunity for buyers as sheds get cleaned out, and many people sitting out of the market waiting to see how the 2014 fodder harvest fares for quality and quantity before taking a position.
- Many regions are reporting cereal hay crops looking like being ready for harvest sooner than average driven by a combination of the early break, frosts and dry conditions.
- Protein hay’s remain in short supply generally.
Northern Australia:
- Hay continues to move to Northern NSW and Qld from further south. Main buyers are feedlots and beef producers looking to hold onto breeding stock.
- As the 2014 fodder harvest from winter crops looks like being well below average it is expected that demand for fodder from southern states will continue, and potentially see an increased focus on summer cropping.
- It should be noted that the fodder prices being quoted for northern regions have a significant freight component.
Southern Australia:
- The biggest discussion point this week has been what influence the frosts will have on fodder supply for the coming year. While many frosted crops will be cut for hay how well they will yield, and therefore how much impact it will have on the market is still an unknown quantity.
- Trading of hay has been generally slow this week in southern regions, a key driver being the good season being had by most dairy farmers.
- While the current trading is slow there are reports of growing interest from buyers looking to secure the coming years fodder.
Western Australia:
- Similar to the east coast, the main point of interest in the west this week is how the 2014 fodder harvest will turn out. It is too soon to tell how the export hay harvest will go but this will have a large impact on the domestic hay market.
- The hay market remains steady this week. Supplies are lower than average for this time of year and trading is limited.
- There is still some demand for higher grade hay which is becoming difficult to source.
- Rhodes grass: ($280-$300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Patchy rain continued through south eastern Queensland this week. In some areas this has interrupted baling for cereal hay.
- Early sown cereal crops are being baled at present. Growers are reporting low yields.
- Due to continued demand new season hay is moving steadily. Demand may ease in the coming weeks as paddock feed becomes available following the recent rain.
- Cereal hay: ($400 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week. New season cereal hay is now becoming available but steady demand is keeping prices firm.
- Lucerne hay: ($450 – $500/t). Lucerne prices remain steady after a big lift in the market over the past few weeks. The high prices are due to the low supply across Australia and the cost of additional freight if lucerne hay can be sourced from down south.
- Straw: ($220- $260/t). Straw prices remain steady this week. Demand is steady but supply is low. With an increase in cereal crops being cut for hay this year it is likely that the amount of straw produced in 2014 will be down considerably this year.
- Pasture hay: N/A. There are no reports of pasture hay being traded due to the low supply. If there is decent rain over the coming weeks baling pasture hay may occur in late spring.
- Continued rain has been welcomed by growers in the region. In some areas conditions may soon become too wet.
- Demand for hay has eased this week following the rain. Accordingly many buyers are holding off on hay purchases for now.
- Cereal Hay: ($350-$400/t). Prices remained steady this week. Cereal hay can be sourced from Victoria and South Australia.
- Lucerne hay: ($450-$500/t). Lucerne prices remain firm but steady this week. The high prices are due to the low supply across Australia and the cost of additional freight if lucerne hay can be sourced from the southern regions.
- Straw: ($200-$250/t). Prices remain unchanged this week due to the lack of availability and trading.
- Pasture hay: ($210-$230/t). Trading is limited due to low availability. Generally quality is low.
- The season is going well for hay growers in the Central West. As growers are starting to consider their options for marketing 2014/15 hay and supplies are low in sheds, now is a good time for buyers to talk to their hay suppliers and secure hay supply for the year ahead.
- There have been some reports of stressed crops being damaged by frosts over the past few weeks. There is interest in baling these crops and some crops have already been cut for hay. Anyone who is attempting to bale hay at this stage should be mindful of curing times. There is some good information on curing hay correctly on the AFIA website under Fodder Care. (click here to view).
- Demand for hay from the Central West is starting to show signs of easing as the most active buyers in northern NSW and the South Coast have now received good rain.
- Cereal hay: ($300-$330/t). Local cereal hay supplies are very low. Many buyers are now moving to Victoria and South Australia to source cereal hay.
- Lucerne hay: ($350-$400/t). Prices remain steady at present due to the lack of lucerne hay available for trading.
- Straw: ($110-$130/t). Low volumes of straw are being traded and prices remain steady.
- Pasture hay: (220-$280/t). There is continued demand for small squares to the livestock and hobby farmer markets with the recent cool temperatures.
- Good rain over the past few weeks is starting to slow the demand for cereal hay.
- The demand for straw will remain steady as producers seek roughage. Straw supplies are getting low and there is unlikely to be any carry over coming into 2014/15 season.
- As hay growers in the Central West and Riverina start preparing for the hay season in the coming months, now is a good time for buyers to secure hay supplies for the year ahead. If you have an idea of your hay requirements for 2014/15 start talking to your hay supplier now.
- Cereal hay: ($320-$340/t). Prices remained steady this week and demand is starting to slow. Cereal hay prices are expected to remain steady until new season hay becomes available in a few months.
- Lucerne Hay: ($350-$400/t). Finding lucerne hay is very difficult as supplies are low. Prices are firm and will remain steady until trading re-commences when new season hay is available.
- Straw: ($180-$200/t). Demand for straw remains steady. Prices are unchanged this week but may increase in the coming weeks as supplies are starting to run low.
- Pasture Hay: ($160-$180/t).No pasture hay prices were reported this week. We understand there is still some farm to farm trade occurring.
- Continued slow trading this week with little movement of either hay or prices.
- Both buyers and sellers are looking ahead to the new seasons cereal hay crop which looks like it may come in early this year. This is seeing growers looking to clear out their sheds in preparation for the coming hay season, and buyers seeking to secure hay supplies for next year. Until the quality of the new seasons hay is know there is likely to be some price variation.
- Vetch is moving into the region taking the place of lucerne hay which continues to be difficult to source.
- Cereal hay: ($160-$200/t). Prices are steady this week but are expected to ease. Slow trading as well as growers trying to offload 2013 hay is causing the prices to ease.
- Lucerne hay: ($280-$320/t). Trading is slow due to limited supply, and will remain tight throughout winter.
- Vetch hay: ($260-$280/t). Vetch hay can be sourced in Western Victoria, in place of cereal hay.
- Straw: ($90-$110/t). Prices remain unchanged this week. There is some straw being traded however buyers are favouring discounted cereal hay over straw.
- Pasture hay: ($150-$170/t). Trading is slow at present; there are good supplies of pasture hay available.
- Limited trading of hay has seen prices remain fairly static this week.
- Cereal hay is readily accessible, particularly from western Victoria.
- Growers have experienced favourable conditions over the past few months and are optimistic for the season ahead.
- Cereal hay: ($240-$260/t). Prices remain steady this week. Supplies are good in Northern and Western Victoria.
- Lucerne hay: ($310-$330/t). Supply is tight throughout Victoria.
- Vetch hay: ($280 – $320/t). Vetch can be sourced from the Wimmera but quality is variable and supplies are starting to get low.
- Straw: ($110-$130/t). Some straw is available in Gippsland but quality is variable. Prices shown here reflect local prices however buyers seeking straw from North Central and Western Victoria will pay higher prices due to freight.
- Pasture hay: ($180-$220/t). There are small amounts of trade between farms but generally demand if slow due to supplies on farm locally.
- Demand for hay remains steady, but slower than usual for this time of year with cereal hay is most sought after.
- There are reports that some growers are clearing out their shed to make way for the 2014 has season. With more hay coming onto the market over the past few weeks prices have softened.
- Some vetch hay is still available from growers in the Wimmera. Quality is variable and high grade hay becoming more difficult to source.
- Cereal hay: -$15 ($130-$170/t). A slight drop this week as growers start to clear out stock in preparation of the 2014 harvest.
- Lucerne hay: ($250-$270/t). Lucerne remains difficult to source. Due to the limited supply we are seeing some price volatility for lucerne hay and vetch is available but quality is variable.
- Vetch hay: ($200-$230/t). Vetch hay is still available in northern Victoria. Prices have eased over the past month as the quality of hay available is declining.
- Straw: -$10 ($110-$120/t). There is plenty of straw available and a small price drop this week.
- 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.
- Demand is generally slow at present.
- With trading slower than expected some sellers area looking at decreasing prices in order to shift hay.
- With the exception of lucerne hay, on farm hay supplies are good locally.
- Cereal Hay: ($135 -$145/t). Prices are unchanged due to slow trading.
- Lucerne: -$10 ($260 – $280/t). Supplies are tighter than usual for this time of year but a small price drop was reported however it should be noted stocks are short.
- 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 has eased from buyers in northern Australia but the market remains steady.
- Local hay supplies are good for this time of year and it looks likely that both cereal hay and straw will be carried into the coming season. Growers continue to consider their options for clearing out sheds which may see some good opportunities for buyers.
- How best to deal with frosted crops remains a key focus for affected growers.
- There is some interest in baling these crops, with some crops already cut. Anyone who is attempting to bale hay at this stage should be mindful of curing times. There is some good information on curing hay correctly on the AFIA website under Fodder Care. (click here to view).
- Cereal Hay: -$10 ($150-$190/t). Minimal trading again this week and a slight drop in price.
- Lucerne hay: ($300-$330/t). Supplies are low and there has been minimal trading as a result.
- Straw: ($120- $130/t). There has been little movement in price over the past month, with supplies good and demand slow.
- Pasture hay: No reported trading of pasture hay.
- Growers remain positive for the coming hay harvest; however some northern regions are looking for rain.
- Hay trading on the domestic market remains slow this week and prices remain steady.
- For buyers looking to source their 2014/15 hay supplies now is a good time to start talking to your hay supplier and locking in contracts.
- 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 but demand is low.
- 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.
- Influenced by the good growing season there has been limited reported trading of hay this week. Accordingly the market remained steady.
- There is some demand for straw and dairy farmers are the most active buyers at present.
- Quality hay is in short supply with lucerne hay particularly hard to source.
- Cereal hay: ($220-$240/t). There are limited reports of trading due to low supplies. Prices remain unchanged.
- Lucerne hay: ($300-$350/t). Prices remain steady as there is minimal trading. The supply is low and buyers are having difficulty sourcing lucerne.
- Straw: ($170-$190). With interest in straw starting to increase prices have picked up in the past few weeks.
- Pasture hay: ($180-$200/t). Demand remains steady and prices are unchanged this week.