National Summary
- Cooler conditions and rainfall throughout most regions have given rise to increasing inquiries from buyers. Contradicting the higher volume of interest, prices movements have been minimal and isolated. As hay stocks around Australia become tight, traders and buyers are incurring significant freight costs which have been the largest contributing factor to pricing movement, however it should be noted that these impacts have been localised.
- Winter condition have hit Southern areas of Australia resulting in the trade of straw remaining firm as farmers look for a cost effective substitutes for cereal hay.
- After weeks of speculation of a rise in pricing, WA cereal hay prices rose this week due to declining hay stocks and demand also coming from exporters and chaff mills. Weather wise, recent rainfall also gave relief to growers after poor conditions in May.
Northern Australia
- The hay market in the Northern regions is fairly polarised with coastal regions, in particular North Costal NSW, having a better season than most inland areas.
- Rainfall in Queensland has influenced further buyers into the market place. While the rains are long overdue, some businesses are reducing the consumption of brought in feed in an effort to improve pasture consumption. This is mitigating any price rise.
Southern Australia
- Current pricing for cereal hay is being met with resistance from buyers. Protein hay stocks, similar to cereals are becoming tighter but limited interest from buyers has buffered any pricing increases.
- Demand from dairy sectors is declining in most regions with the exception of Tasmania as spring calving systems begin destocked for the winter period. Straw markets have performed well and pricing has been firm even with variations of quality hay trading.
Western Australia
- The recent pressure applied to the hay market by exports pursuing further hay stocks, coupled with strong demand from domestic consumers has produced a price rise in WA. As stocks of hay in WA continue to decline there is room for further price increases prior to harvest.
- The tight market has seen traders and exporters traveling considerable distances to find quality hay. This is beginning to impact on pricing.
- There has been a respite is the growing conditions in WA with good rainfall recorded late last week. Farmer confidence has high as both favourable growing conditions and strong demand for hay put producers in a strong position leading into winter.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Following recent rainfall, demand has dropped off as buyers establish pasture banks on farm.
- Even with fewer buyers in the market, inquiries for pasture hay remain steady.
- A $10 rise in the hay market this week has been linked to hay producers passing on operating costs of irrigation.
- The majority of interest from hay out of the Atherton Tablelands is coming from beef producers.
- Pasture hay: +$10 ($290 to $330/t). $10 price increase.
Darling Downs
- Cooler conditions in the region are giving rise to further interest from buyers. Sellers recorded more inquiries but few sales.
- Stocks of hay in the region are becoming tight however current prices are being met by resistance from buyers.
- Pasture based systems are taking full advantage of recent rainfall and utilising home grown feed rather than buying in hay.
- Sellers indicated that farmers who purchased hay off the back of the baler last season have been a contributing factor for the current lack of interest in the market.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 (350 to $380/t). The price remains steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($450 to $500/t). Prices firm this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($170 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($270 to $310/t). Prices remain steady this week.
North Coast NSW
- Again, good rains along the North Coast continue. Late autumn/early winter rainfall coupled with late frosts has allowed livestock producers to focus on producing pasture and using home grown conserved fodder.
- Demand in the hay market is steady limited hay movements but interest firm remaining firm.
- Dairy farmers that forward bought hay have been flagged as the reason for the reduction of buyers in the market for this time of the year.
- Sourcing bulk lucerne hay may be more difficult to source than cereal hay. This is leading to some localised price increases; however no overall price movement was recorded.
- Stocks of cereal hay are average for the time of year.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($230 to $290/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $160/t). Prices are steady but are based on limited trading.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. Few reports of trading in sufficient quantities to be able to determine a price.
Central West NSW
- An increase in the volume of inquiries for cereal hay was reported this week. This has not transferred into a price increase due to the high quantity of hay available in the region.
- Buyers are encouraged to get a feed analysis done on any hay purchases as the quality of hay in the market at present is variable.
- There have been limited reports of hay going into dairy areas. This has been attributed to forward buying of hay and good growing conditions.
- The commentary from the market this week discussed that demand for small cereal squares into the horse industry is on the increase. However, this has not influenced overall market prices.
- It is expected that there will be prices increases in the coming month due to supply constraints.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($340 to $400/t). The pricing remains steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 N/A. There are no reports of straw being traded this week, 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
- The Bega hay market remained fairly quiet this week due to good seasonal conditions.
- Most dairy farms are now utilising home grown silage.
- Good rainfall last week late last week allowed farmers to continue to focus on utilising home grown pasture.
- Some farmers are only now including hay into livestock rations and it has been reported that there are good stocks of carry over hay from last year. This is likely to see limited interest into the hay spot market for another 6-8 weeks.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($270 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($350 to $390/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($180 to $200/t). Straw prices remain steady but supplies are low.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Hay stocks across the region are low.
- Both lucerne and vetch hay are in low supply and there are reports of suppliers exhausting stocks. This has led to price increases.
- High prices of cereal and protein hay have seen some farmers looking for alternative feed sources such as citrus pulp and almond hulls.
- Straw is trading firm again this week after last week’s surge in both price and inquiries. It is expected that this interested will be consistent as farmers look for lower cost fodder options.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($210 to $240/t). Pricing steady this week
- Lucerne hay: +$15 ($310 to $530/t). $15 price rise from mid-point due to declining stocks.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $110/t). Prices remain steady.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $180/t). Pricing remains steady this week.
Gippsland
- Good pasture growth in the region has seen limited interest in the hay market.
- Sourcing cereal hay continues to be challenging for farmers due to high prices.
- There has been an increase in interest for protein hay noted this week. This has not yet had an impact on lucerne and vetch prices.
- Straw trading is firm this week as livestock producers look to incorporate fibre into cattle winter rations.
- Local Gippsland hay stocks are becoming exhausted but already inflated prices have not incurred further price increases.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($360 to $380/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/$0 ($120 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $230/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Good pasture growth rates have seen reduced interest in the hay market this week. However prices for all hay types remain firm as stocks are below average.
- The trade of protein hay remains steady. Pricing of protein hay is causing farmers to instead buy cereal hay.
- Similar to other dairy regions in Victoria, farmers are focusing on growing pasture rather than buying hay.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($310 to $350/t). Remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $220/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southeast South Australia
- Reports received this week of slightly higher prices being paid for both for oaten and lucerne hay.
- Stocks of high quality hay remain scarce.
- Protein hay is being sourced into the region from Victoria.
- Demand for straw continues to remain steady as dairy farms prepare for calving.
- Cereal hay: +$5 ($240 to $260/t). Prices have lifted slightly and appear to be related to scarcity of supply.
- Lucerne hay: +$5 ($300 to $350/t). Prices have lifted $5 due to short supply.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $220/t). Holding steady with adequate stores.
Central South Australia
- No reported price changes in the central districts hay market in the past week.
- Exporters continue to be active in the market seeking high quality cereal hay.
- Feed lots buyers have been active in the market, lifting the confidence of sellers.
- Stocks in the region remain below average for the time of year.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($200 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. Market interest rising though.
- Pasture hay: N/A. No reported trading.
Southwest Western Australia
- Recent rainfall in the southwest has brought relief to growers following a relatively dry May and first half of June.
- The combination of dry weather and the start of lambing season have resulted in continued demand for hay.
- Stocks of cereal hay, especially high quality oaten hay, are tight and the price has lifted slightly.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($200 to $220/t). Prices have increased due to low stocks and solid demand.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($490 to $530/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to 200/t). Prices remain steady this week despite strong competition.
Northwest Tasmania
- There have been considerable price movements in hay this week as wetter conditions take effect.
- There are reports of large dairy businesses seeking big volumes of pasture and cereal hay and as a result, prices are being driven up.
- Interest in straw remains firm as farmers look for dry cow feed.
- A shortage of hay supply in Southern Tasmania is seeing hay traders sending product considerable distances. These operating costs are also forcing up prices of fodder on farm.
- Cereal hay is becoming scarce.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($230 to $270/t). Prices increase $10 from the mid-point.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($310 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($170 to $190/t). Prices remain steady with no report of trade in straw.
- Pasture hay: +$10 ($170 to $210/t). Prices have increased $10 from the mid-point.