National Summary – Hay:
- Once again pricing in the hay market has remained fairly steady this week. As is typical of this time of year, in most regions buyers and sellers are sitting back where possible and waiting to see what the new season will bring.
- Coming into the new hay season there is some speculation that protein hay could be in short supply again, particularly in southern Australia. The drier conditions in northern parts of Victoria and high opening water prices are the key drivers. Due to the lack of carry over lucerne hay and steady demand, new season lucerne hay will move quickly in 2015. Buyers who are looking for lucerne hay in 2015 are encouraged to speak to their hay suppliers now to secure their hay for the year ahead.
Northern Australia:
- Baling of cereal crops is well underway and growers are reporting yields much lower than previous years.
- Demand for new season hay is steady. As hay is becoming locally the amount moving north from southern Australia has dropped off over the past few weeks.
- Anyone looking to secure hay for the coming year is well advised to talk to their hay supplier now as hay reserves are very low and could be tight coming into summer.
Southern Australia:
- While the current trading remains slow there are reports of growing interest from buyers looking to secure the coming years fodder.
- Vetch is being cut in parts of Victoria, the Riverina and South Australia. Baling will commence in the next few weeks.
- In western Victoria, southern NSW and South Australia the cereal hay harvest will commence in the coming weeks. The crop forecast for cereal hay is varied across southern Australia. Frost has impact some dry and stressed crops, some crop yields are reported to be well back and some areas are looking good with average or better yields expected.
Western Australia:
- Rain over the past few weeks has been welcomed by growers.
- The season is very early in parts of WA. There are reports that some cereal hay crops have been cut with baling to commence in the coming weeks.
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.
- 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.
- Baling new season hay is underway and yields are well below average.
- Demand for hay has remained steady over the past few weeks but is starting to ease. Recent rain is the key driver behind this market shift. Many buyers are also waiting to source new season hay locally as it becomes available, in preference to paying freight on hay sourced from southern Australia.
- Hay moving in from the southern states has slowed considerably.
- Cereal hay: -$20 ($380 to $430/t). Prices eased slightly this week due to the availability of cereal hay locally.
- Lucerne hay: ($450 – $500/t). Lucerne prices remain firm but steady. 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. There is very little straw being traded at present due to low supply.
- Pasture hay: N/A. There are no reports of pasture hay being traded due to the low supply.
- Widespread rain across the region has been welcomed by growers over the past two weeks.
- Demand for hay has eased slightly following the rain. However due to very low supplies locally and lack of paddock feed there is still a steady trade.
- Increased cattle prices are having a positive impact on both hay price and trade volumes, with buyers being more confident about purchasing hay.
- Cereal Hay: ($350-$400/t). Prices remained steady this week. Cereal hay is being sourced from southern Australia although demand is starting to ease.
- Lucerne hay: ($450-$500/t). Lucerne prices remain firm but steady. 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 low supply.
- Pasture hay: ($210-$230/t). Trading is limited due to low availability.
- With the hay season just around the corner growers are reporting good crops and are generally optimistic about yields for the coming year’s harvest.
- Demand has now started to ease from buyers in the north and on the south coast. Due to steady demand throughout the year local supplies of hay are low.
- 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 reports of stressed crops being damaged by frosts over the past few weeks. There is interest in baling these crops, with some crops already 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).
- Cereal hay: ($300-$330/t). Local cereal hay supplies are very low. Cereal hay will not be available locally until new season hay or frosted crops come onto the market in the next month.
- 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.
- Demand has eased due to rain in the past few weeks; however there is still some cereal hay and straw moving into the region.
- 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 the coming 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.
- The market remains slow this week and prices remain steady as a result.
- The silage season has commenced in some areas and good yields are being reported.
- Growers in northern Victoria are optimistic about the coming season’s cereal hay crop. However growers in the Wimmera/ Mallee are reporting poor crop performance and expect yields to be well down on 2013. This could impact the supply of cereal hay in 2014/15.
- Vetch is being cut in Western Victoria with baling set to commence in the coming weeks. There is still some demand for vetch hay which can be sourced from the Wimmera.
- There is now speculation that the 2014/15 lucerne hay harvest could be lower than expected due to poor crop performance in some parts of Victoria and high opening water prices. This would see a continued shortage of lucerne hay throughout southern Australia. Buyers who require lucerne hay are well advised to speak to their hay growers now and lock in their price and requirements early to secure supply for 2015.
- 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 lucerne 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 steady this week.
- Growers have experienced favourable conditions over the past few months and are optimistic for the season ahead. Silage should commence in mid to late September.
- There is now speculation that the 2014/15 lucerne hay harvest could be lower than expected due to poor crop performance in north western Victoria and high water prices. This would see a continued shortage of lucerne hay throughout southern Australia. Buyers who require lucerne hay are well advised to speak to their hay growers now and lock in their price and requirements early to secure supply for 2015.
- 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, prices remain steady.
- Vetch hay: ($280 – $320/t). Vetch can be sourced from the Wimmera but quality is variable and supplies are starting to get low. Vetch is being cut in Western Victoria at present.
- 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, cereal and vetch hay is most sought after by dairy farmers at present.
- There is a wide range of prices being quoted in the market this week which appears to be driven by sellers assessing their options. Some are choosing to offload 2013 hay at low prices to clear out sheds, while others are concerned about dry conditions in the North of the state and the supply of hay coming into 2015, and therefore are holding onto hay for their own requirements.
- Lucerne hay is very difficult to source some vetch hay is still available from growers in the Wimmera / Mallee. Quality is variable and high grade hay becoming more difficult to source.
- Lucerne hay growers in parts of northern Victoria are reporting poor crop performance and expect yields to be well down on 2013. This could impact the supply of lucerne hay in 2014/15.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($140-$170/t). A slight increase this week, after a lull in the market last week.
- 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: +$20 ($220-$250/t). Vetch hay is still available in northern Victoria but supplies are becoming limited. Prices have increased slightly this week as buyers are sourcing vetch where lucerne is not available creating a little more demand.
- Straw: ($110-$120/t). There is plenty of straw available and with limited trading prices remain steady.
- Pasture hay: -$20 ($140-$160/t). With good supplies of pasture hay available and quality below average, prices have eased a little this week.
- Demand for hay remains fairly slow.
- With the exception of lucerne hay, on farm hay supplies are good locally. Some sellers have been trying to offload 2013 hay by reducing prices.
- There has been some interest in cereal hay and straw due to the wet conditions.
- Cereal Hay: ($135 -$145/t). Prices are unchanged due to slow trading.
- Lucerne: ($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.
- There are some reports of medic and vetch crops being cut in the past few weeks with baling to commence shortly. Supplies of both medic and vetch hay locally are low.
- How best to deal with frosted crops remains a key focus for affected growers. There are some reports of frosted crops being cut for hay but the quality of these crops could vary.
- 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: ($150-$190/t). Minimal trading was reported this week, however prices remain steady. With new season just around the corner it is expected prices will ease further in the coming weeks.
- Lucerne hay: ($300-$330/t). Supplies are low and there has been minimal trading as a result.
- Straw: ($120- $130/t). The market for straw remains steady, with supplies good and demand slow.
- Pasture hay: No reported trading of pasture hay.
- The cereal hay harvest is already underway in some parts of WA. It is slightly earlier than usual to cut hay at this time of year in WA which is indicative of the early season through the wheat belt and key hay growing regions.
- 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 reports of hay trading 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.