National Summary
- Once again there has been little movement in the hay market this week across the country. Positive growing conditions in a number of regions, most notably driven by rain in the North, have seen demand for hay slow.
- The slowing demand is also seeing growers starting look at storing hay for sale later in the year rather than taking the current market prices.
- The supply situation for the coming season remains the same, below average, and 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
- Optimism in the North continues following the summer rains with both crops and pastures benefiting.
- With paddock feed becoming more available the demand for hay is slowing although there is still interest in high quality hay, protein hay in particular.
- Some growers are also taking advantage of available feed to make hay although summer storms continue to interrupt baling in some regions.
Southern Australia
- Demand for hay continues to be slow with many growers utilising summer forage crops and available paddock feed rather than hay. We are also starting to see some sellers opting to put hay into storage for later in the year rather than take the prices on offer in the market now.
- Fodder conservation continues where possible, in particular in regions such as in Bega and Gippsland.
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.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Demand for hay remains slow but steady at present and there is now paddock feed available in most areas.
- Hay remains in short supply for this time of year and with the onset of the wet season hay production is unlikely to resume for some months.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady.
Darling Downs
- Following more rainfall this week the optimism amongst farmers in south east Queensland continues. A key indicator of this optimism is the strong prices currently being paid for cattle.
- 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.
- 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 with Summer rain boosting pasture growth and taken the pressure off the hay market.
- Prices remain steady this week despite easing demand but there is a likelihood of prices easing in the coming weeks.
- Interruptions in baling hay from rain are continuing 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. Only limited 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 continue to be active buyers particularly seeking high grade lucerne hay.
- 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 with good pasture and crop growth being key drivers.
- Contractors remain busy bailing 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).
- 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 outlook on the coming maize harvest remains positive with continuing good growing conditions.
- Prices remain steady and 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 good amounts of paddock feed are available. There has been some interest in protein hay but the demand remains slow.
- A focus on fodder conservation continues in Gippsland with growers looking to build up stocks of fodder.
- 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.
- 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 is limited interest in protein hay.
- 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. With many buyers already having made purchases of fodder for later in the year.
- Overall supplies are below average for this time of year, with Lucerne hay in particularly short in supply.
- 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 all 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.
- 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 with some interest from exporters in mid-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. Anyone looking to secure stocks of hay for the coming months is well advised to talk to suppliers now.
- There is still some paddock feed available but there are also enquiries for new season hay.
- 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.