National Summary
- Rain has continued to assist with pasture and crop growth in many regions (particularly for lucerne producers) however the rain has also caused hay quality challenges for growers in several regions.
- Rain and cooler conditions in the south have caused some buyers to delay their fodder purchases. Chaff mills continue to actively seek high grade lucerne and oaten hay.
- Reports this week that some hay sellers have already sold or forward contracted all of their hay should serve as a reminder to purchasers to talk to your hay supplier about securing your needs for the coming season.
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.
- Hay prices in South East Queensland are holding and remain propped by the firm cattle prices.
Southern Australia
- Demand for hay continues to be slow with many growers utilising summer forage crops and available paddock feed rather than hay. There were limited reports of hay trading this week as sellers wait for demand to increase.
- Rain over the weekend across several southern regions has resulted in continued on-farm fodder conservation.
Western Australia
- Cereal hay supplies are about average at present due to a good hay season in the key export hay growing regions.
- Lucerne availability continues to be very limited in the west.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- The hay market remains generally quiet.
- Hay continues to be in short supply for this time of year as it is still too wet for growers to cut hay. It is expected that it will be around a month before the local supply situation increases.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady.
Darling Downs
- Hay and straw supplies continue to be low due to the dry conditions throughout much of 2014.
- Strengthening cattle prices and ongoing feedlot demand are contributing to an optimistic outlook among sellers.
- Recent rains have caused a slight easing in demand for hay.
- Cereal hay: +/- $0 ($380 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($450 to $500/t). The market for lucerne hay remains firm but steady. Lack of supply expected to keep prices steady.
- 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. No reports yet of sales of new season hay.
North Coast NSW
- The New England continues to experience good growth conditions and good buying opportunities exist in an otherwise quiet market.
- The lucerne trade is easing but demand for high quality chaffing hay is still strong.
- Rain during baling has caused occasional patchiness in quality and as always to ensure you get the quality you expect buyers are advised to use a trusted hay supplier.
- 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 month.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $160/t). Prices are steady but limited trading makes a price comparison difficult to ascertain.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. Only limited pasture hay available at present and very few reports of trading in bulk quantities.
Central West NSW
- Quiet trading conditions continue to dominate the market, driven by a combination of available paddock feed and relatively high fodder prices.
- Most hay supplies are good at present, with the exception of lucerne. At the same time chaff mills continue to be active buyers of high grade lucerne hay.
- Growers continue to be content to store hay in the short term with the expectation that demand will rise in the next month or so.
- Cereal hay: +/- $0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: – $10 ($300 to $400/t). Prices slightly lower this week reflecting wider range of quality on offer.
- 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 the key drivers.
- Overall good stocks of cereal hay are available. Again it is noted that supplies of lucerne hay are low in most parts of eastern Australia, particularly in the dry land production areas and supplies are likely to be tight later in the year. Buyers seeking protein hay are encouraged to lock in their requirements earlier rather than later.
- Orders being set for summer silage (Maize, sorghum and millet), indicating demand is still strong.
- Cereal hay: -$20 ($260 to $300/t). Cereal hay prices have eased slightly due to continued low demand and plentiful supply.
- 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: -$20 ($240 to $260/t). Pasture hay prices also easing on slow demand.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Cooler than average conditions through January and into February continue to put downward pressure on the demand for hay.
- Lucerne growers are satisfied overall with hay quality this season, and are expecting another cut over the next six weeks.
- The outlook on the coming maize harvest remains positive with continuing good growing conditions.
- Prices remain steady 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: -$10 ($280 to $320/t). Prices slightly lower this week on reports of sales at the lower end of the range. 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
- Rain over the weekend has led to new growth and the hay market continues to be reasonably quiet. There has been some interest in protein hay but the trade remains slow.
- Fodder conservation continues in Gippsland with growers looking to build up silage stocks.
- Favourable growing conditions have resulted in a good hay harvest across most of the region and pasture hay supplies are generally good.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices 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 is expected to be sought after in the coming months.
Southwest Victoria
- Demand for hay is slow, although sellers are anticipating an increase in demand over the coming months.
- Light rain over the weekend has benefitted summer growth and continues reduce the demand 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: +/ -$0 ($300 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- 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
- There has been very little change in market for hay to report over the past month with many buyers already having made purchases of fodder for later in the year.
- High quality hay is particularly difficult to source. The combination of early purchases and dry conditions driving down yields has kept prices firm.
- Overall supplies are below average for this time of year, with lucerne hay in particularly short in supply.
- 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
- Overall the quality of new season hay is high but yields are down.
- The hay market remains slow at present, although exporters continue to make enquiries for additional cereal hay.
- Hay growers are reporting that much of the hay in storage is largely under contract.
- 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
- Although there is some fluctuation in the market for hay generally prices for domestic hay remain steady at present.
- The supplies of hay, particularly cereal hay, are thought to be good coming into 2015. Lucerne hay production levels are still very low.
- 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 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 ($90 to $110/t). Limited trading of late, prices remain unchanged. Demand in straw for pellet meal.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to 180/t). Prices remain steady at present due to the limited trading.
Northwest Tasmania
- Dry summer conditions have resulted in reduced hay stocks across Tasmania.
- Buyers looking to secure stocks of hay for the coming months are advised to talk to suppliers now.
- 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.