National Summary
- Once again the hay market is very subdued this week. With the limited trading being reported there has been very little movement in hay pricing this week as well.
- Over the past few weeks we have reported that chaff mills have been active buyers for high grade lucerne and oaten hay. This week we are hearing the demand from these customers is starting to ease in some areas, most notably in Victoria.
- 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 supplies are currently ok.
Northern Australia
- With patchy summer storms benefitting both forage crops and pastures, we are starting to hear reports of some optimism building in northern Australia after a long and difficult dry spell in the region the good news is most welcomed.
- With feed becoming available the demand for hay is slowing, although there is still some interest in protein hay.
- Some growers are also taking advantage of available feed to make hay. Although summer storms have interrupted baling over the past few weeks contractors are reporting that there is a lot of enquiry at present.
Southern Australia
- Demand for hay is slow with many growers utilising summer forage crops and available paddock feed rather than buying hay.
- With growing conditions favorable many farmers are keen to conserve as much fodder as possible this year. Contractors, particularly in Bega and Gippsland regions have been busy over the past month trying to keep up with the demand.
Western Australia
- Cereal hay supplies are about average at present due to a good hay season in the key export hay growing regions.
- There is some interest in cereal hay from the exporters but generally the hay market is quiet at present.
- 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 remains slow but steady at present. Summer storms have helped to boost pasture production and there is now paddock feed available in most areas.
- Hay remains in short supply for this time of year. With the onset of the wet season hay production won’t recommence for some months.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady.
Darling Downs
- After a long dry period we are starting to hear some optimism amongst farmers in south east Queensland. Patchy summer storms have benefitted summer forage crops and also pasture growth. With feed available cattle producers are also in a better position to take advantage of improving cattle prices.
- Hay and straw supplies are low due to the dry conditions throughout most of 2014. However in some areas there is now an opportunity to start baling again.
- Over the past month hay trading has slowed considerably and the market remains slow but steady at present.
- We may see some further movement in hay prices in the coming weeks if the market stays quiet.
- 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. As new season hay is baled over the coming weeks prices may start to become more evident.
North Coast NSW
- Demand for hay has slowed considerably in the past month. Summer rain has help boost pasture growth and taken the pressure off the hay market.
- Prices remain steady this week despite the drop off in demand. We expect prices could ease in the coming weeks if demand stays slow.
- Hay growers and contractors are still baling hay, in particular lucerne and pasture hay. Production has been interrupted by recent rain and in some cases quality may be impacted.
- 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 is fairly slow at present, driven by a combination of available paddock feed and higher fodder 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.
- The quality of most hay varieties including cereal hay, lucerne and straw is generally high. It is reported that some pasture hay varies in quality and buyers should be wary when making their pasture hay purchases this year.
- 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.
- 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.
Bega Valley
- Demand for hay remains slow this week.
- 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.
- Given the positive growing season it is expected 2015 will be a big year for summer silage (Maize, sorghum and millet).
- 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 rather than buying.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- The demand for hay is slow at present. Even the local chaff markets, which have been very active over the past few months, are starting to quieten down at present.
- Lucerne growers are onto their third or fourth cuts. Rain over the past week and unseasonably humid weather has caused some interruptions but the quality is generally good.
- The mild summer and favourable growing conditions mean that there is still plenty of paddock feed and summer forage crops available for grazing.
- There has been a lot of interest in planting maize for silage this year and a big harvest is expected in the coming months.
- 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. There has been some interest in protein hay but mostly the market is soft, as is typical for the time of year.
- 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.
- Favourable growing conditions have resulted in a good hay harvest across most of the region. Pasture hay supplies are generally good.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices eased last week but remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($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: +/-$0 ($200 to $220/t). With some good quality pasture and clover hay becoming available prices are quite firm for this time of year. Good quality pasture hay will be sought after in the coming months. .
Southwest Victoria
- Demand for hay remains slow although there has been some interest in protein hay.
- 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.
- 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 is slow but steady. There was a lot of activity in spring where astute buyers purchased their hay early to ensure they didn’t miss out. Much of this hay was high quality and is being put into storage for use later in the year.
- Overall supplies are below average for this time of year. Lucerne hay is particularly short in supply compared to this time in 2014.
- High quality hay is particularly difficult to source. A combination of early purchases and lower than expected yields are the key drivers.
- 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 remains slow at present, although the exporters have been making enquiries after some second grade cereal hay.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. Although some exporters have been making enquiries after second grade hay.
- The supplies of hay, particularly cereal hay are thought to be good coming into 2015.
- 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
- Tasmania has experienced a very patchy hay season in 2014/15 and overall production is below average.
- With hay yields reported to be down it is likely that the hay market will 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.
- With supplies expected to be tight in 2015 buyers are encouraged to make their enquiries early for new season hay to avoid disappointment later in the year.
- 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.