National Summary
- The hay market remains fairly quiet again this week, typical for this time of year. The subdued trading has seen prices soften a little in a couple of regions that are having a particularly productive hay season but overall there are no significant shifts in the hay market this week.
- The most active buyers at present are the processors. The chaff mills are busy seeking premium grade lucerne and cereal hay. There are also reports in South Australia that exporters have started making further enquiries for hay in the past few weeks.
- Overall the supply of hay for the coming season is expected to be below average. Hay supplies could come under pressure if there is a late break in the key dairy regions in 2015, however at present supplies are ok.
Northern Australia
- With patchy rain over the past few months and increasing cattle prices some optimism is starting to return to growers in Queensland. Summer crops that were planted before the rain are coming along well in most areas and growers will be grateful for the additional fodder coming into autumn.
- Paddock feed is becoming more readily available so the demand for hay has eased slightly but there is still a market for lower grade/cheaper roughage.
- Some regions have now had enough growth from earlier summer storms to start baling pasture hay. These growers are keen to conserve as much fodder as possible to refill empty hay sheds.
Southern Australia
- Demand for hay is slow at present which is fairly typical for this time of year.
- In some regions such as Gippsland and the Bega Valley good rain through spring and early summer has boosted pasture growth and enabled second cuts of silage. Many farmers are keen to conserve as much fodder as possible this year and contractors have been busy over the past month trying to keep up with the demand.
- There is still some demand for protein hay but it has quietened off considerably in the past few weeks. Prices in South West Victoria and Gippsland softened a little this week as a result.
Western Australia
- Cereal hay supplies are about average at present due to a good hay season in the key export hay growing regions.
- There has been some variation in quality of hay this year.
- Pasture hay and silage production is now complete. Yields varied due to the patchy conditions in south west WA.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Demand for hay has slowed considerably over the past month as paddock feed is now available.
- Hay remains in short supply and with the onset of the wet season hay production won’t recommence for some months.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices have softened in the past month due to lower quality of hay available and slow demand.
Darling Downs
- Summer storms bringing enough rain to boost forage crops and create some paddock feed as well as stronger cattle prices are driving improved optimism for growers on the Darling Downs.
- Hay and straw supplies are low due to the dry conditions throughout most of 2014.
- Some growers have now got enough feed to start baling and are keen to put as much hay into storage as possible. Contractors are reporting being very busy again in some areas.
- Over the past month hay trading has slowed considerably and the market remains slow but steady at present.
- Cereal hay: +/- $0 ($380 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week and are likely to remain steady for the short term due to the softer demand.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($450 to $500/t). The market for lucerne hay remains firm but steady. With the limited supply prices are expected to stay firm in the coming months.
- Straw: +/- $0 ($180 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week, although there are limited reports of trading.
- Pasture hay: +/- $0 ($380 to $420/t). Prices are speculative and based on a few reports of pasture (rye and rye/clover blend) hay from southern NSW. As new season hay is baled over the coming weeks prices may start to become more evident.
North Coast NSW
- Demand for hay remains steady but has slowed considerably over the past month. Summer rain has help boost pasture growth and taken the pressure off the hay market.
- Prices also remain steady this week despite the drop off in demand. Firm prices are a result of low hay supply locally.
- Hay growers and contractors are still baling some hay, in particular lucerne and pasture hay. Production has been interrupted by recent rain and in some cases this may impact quality.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/- $0 ($350-$400/t). Prices remain steady and are expected to stay steady for the coming weeks.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $160/t). Prices are steady but speculative as there has been limited trading so far this season.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. There is very little pasture hay available at present and very few reports of trading in bulk quantities.
Central West NSW
- The demand for hay has slowed right down over the past few weeks. A combination of available paddock feed and higher fodder prices are the key drivers.
- Growers are starting to become more optimistic about hay trading this season due to the improved cattle prices.
- Most hay supplies are good at present, with the exception of lucerne. Chaff mills are active buyers at present, particularly seeking high grade lucerne hay.
- There is some interest in straw production this year due to good yields and quality.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week after softening slightly last week.
- Lucerne hay: +/- $0 ($320 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week. Lower grade lucerne is trading in the mid to low $300’s and premium lucerne is trading at $400.
- Straw: +/-$0 N/A. There are no reports of straw being traded this week which is mainly attributed to low stocks and slow demand.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. There are no reports of new season pasture hay trading yet. New season pasture hay should become available in the coming months.
Bega Valley
- Demand for hay is slow through the Bega region. A good spring and continued summer storms have benefitted pastures and summer crops.
- Contractors have been very busy over the past month, although significant rain events have interrupted baling. The quality of this summer feed may vary due to the rain.
- With limited reports of trading prices remain speculative this week. It is expected that the market will remain steady for the coming weeks.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Cereal hay prices remained steady this week due to the flattening demand.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($380 to $400/t). Prices remain firm but steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($180 to $200/t). Straw prices remain steady but supplies are low.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($260 to $280/t). Pasture hay prices remain steady this week. Reports of trading are limited at present as growers are concentrating on making their own fodder as opposed to buying.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- The demand for hay is slow at present. There is some interest in protein hay (lucerne and vetch) however this has also slowed considerably to the dairy buyers.
- There is still a steady market for high grade hay, with chaff mills actively seeking premium grade lucerne hay. Due to the steady demand for this hay supplies are starting to become tight.
- Lucerne growers are attempting to complete their third or fourth cuts. Rain over the past week and unseasonably humid weather has caused some interruptions.
- Prices are fairly steady this week and are expected to remain so until late January or early February when the seasonal outlook for 2015 becomes clearer.
- Cereal hay: +/- $0 ($200 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week. High grade lucerne is fetching a premium.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $110/t). Prices remain steady as trading is limited.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $170/t). >Prices remain steady this week and are unlikely to vary too much in the short term.
Gippsland
- Demand for hay remains slow as paddock feed is available and most farmers are concentrating on making their own hay rather than buying it in.
- Growers, particularly on the MID are trying to conserve as much fodder as possible this year to rebuild low supplies from the past few years. Many growers are now into their second cuts of silage.
- In some regions rain after the early first cut of pasture hay has prompted a second cut of hay which is ready now. There are reports that some of this hay is high grade clover hay. For informed buyers there is a good opportunity to purchase this new season hay now at a much more competitive price than lucerne or vetch shipped in from other regions. Buyers should act quickly as this hay is in small quantities and won’t last long.
- Cereal hay: -$30 ($240 to $280/t). Prices eased slightly this week due to the slow demand, although there are very limited reports of hay being traded.
- Lucerne hay: -$25 ($350 to $380/t). Prices have eased slightly due to the slowing demand.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $130/t). Trading is slow and prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +$10 ($200 to $220/t). With some good quality pasture and clover hay coming on line, prices strengthened slightly this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Demand for hay remains slow following the Christmas New Year break and is not expected to pick up for a few weeks.
- Some rain over the past month has benefitted summer crops and helped boost pasture growth. This has taken some pressure off the need for purchased feed.
- Protein hay prices have started to ease with the slowing demand. Supplies are getting tight but there is still some vetch available through the Wimmera / Mallee regions.
- There is some interest in baling straw, quality is good and supplies are also good.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$25 ($300 to $330/t). Prices eased slightly this week but are expected to remain steady for the coming weeks.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $120/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $240/t). Prices remain steady at present and trading is very limited.
Southeast South Australia
- Demand for hay has eased in the past few weeks which is typical of this time of year. Buyers are taking advantage of summer crops and watered pastures. Demand is unlikely to pick up for a few weeks.
- Overall supplies are below average for this time of year. Lucerne hay is particularly short in supply compared to this time in 2014.
- Despite the short supply there is limited trading at present and prices remain steady across all hay varieties this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain firm but steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/- $0 ($300 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week and are firm for this time of year.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($105 to $115/t). Very little straw is trading at present. Supplies are low and prices remain steady.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $220/t). Prices for new season pasture hay remain steady this week.
Central South Australia
- The hay market has slowed considerably coming into 2015. Exporters have started making enquiries again for cereal hay, although supplies are now becoming tight.
- Most hay growers are reporting that their hay in storage is largely under contract now. A combination of active domestic and export buyers in late 2014 are the key drivers.
- There have been large quantities of donated hay to bush fire affected regions in the Adelaide Hills. As a result the demand for hay from affected farmers in these regions is slow at present.
- Overall the quality of new season hay is high but supplies may come under pressure if the season stays dry. At present supplies of hay are ok, with the exception of protein hay varieties which are in short supply.
- Cereal hay: +/- $0 ($180 to $220/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week. With a shortfall in supply likely to impact most lucerne hay growing regions we can expect firm prices for all protein hay varieties in 2015.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week and trading is limited.
- Pasture hay: N/A. No reported trading of late.
Southwest Western Australia
- Demand for hay is slow but steady at present. With the hay and silage harvest now complete and straw production well underway it appears that hay supplies are good in WA.
- The quality of cereal hay available in WA varies. There has been some excellent quality hay made in 2014 and also some hay which was badly impacted by rain. Buyers are encouraged to get a feed analysis done and visually assess hay before purchase.
- The yields of straw are expected to be down overall due to limited demand on both the domestic and export markets at this stage.
- Cereal hay: +/- $0 ($160 to $180/t). Prices remain steady this week but they are likely to fluctuate in the coming weeks and months.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($480 to $520/t). Prices remained firm this week with generally very little variation on the lucerne hay market due to the short supply available in WA.
- Straw+/-$0 ($85 to $115/t). Limited trading of late, prices remain unchanged.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to 180/t). New season pasture hay is now coming online. Prices remain steady at present due to the limited trading.
Northwest Tasmania
- The season is reported to be very patchy in Tasmania this year. Some regions benefitted from late rain and were able to cut hay and silage, with good yields reported. Other regions, particularly in north eastern Tasmania are reporting very dry conditions and hay yields have been impacted.
- Overall hay yields are expected to be down and the hay market is likely to come under pressure if the season doesn’t improve in the coming months.
- There is still some paddock feed available but there are also enquiries for new season hay. Some astute buyers are getting in early to secure their hay supplies for the year ahead.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $240/t). Cereal hay availability is very limited but prices remain steady.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $320/t). Prices remained steady this week as the new season is not too far away.
- Straw+/-$0 ($170 to $190/t). There is limited demand for straw with pasture hay being a more favourable alternative.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($170 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week. With new season pasture hay just starting to come online there may be some price variation in the coming weeks.