National Summary
- While price movements both up and down were noted in the market this week there is a consistent message that stocks of fodder are tight nationally. Areas where price increases were recorded tended to be due to competition for limited stocks of hay. Areas where price softening was reported were generally due to the poor availability of higher quality hay, pushing buyer towards lower quality and subsequently cheaper hay.
- With the silage harvest in progress in some regions, it appears that a large proportion of cattle farmers are concerned with the predicted dry conditions for the second half of the year.This is resulting in farmers planning to cut silage earlier than usual or spraying out struggling paddocks to sow down summer crops.
- There were reports of frost damage to cereal crops across Australia this week. As growers are still making decisions on how best to manage frost affected crops it is too soon to know what impact this will have on the size of the 2015 hay harvest.
Northern Australia
- Baling of cereal hay is continuing in the Northern regions but the majority of oaten hay crops will be taken off in the coming weeks. Comments from growers are indicating that it will be an average harvest.
- There have been isolated pockets of demand as buyers see an opportunity to source high quality hay in regions that had exhausted all stocks prior to August. This in turn, is moderating any price decline as buyers are meeting top end prices,
Southern Australia
- NSW has received good rainfall with livestock farmers focusing on using paddock feed rather than buying hay. Crops in NSW seem to performing the best out of the country giving an optimistic outlook for harvest.
- In contrast, areas of Victoria have taken the opportunity to cut silage early with the possibility of early summer conditions and the yield predictions in most hay growing regions are well below average.
- Demand has been firm in the southern regions with most buyers rationing out purchased hay stocks to cattle and waiting for the new season product.
- Similar to other areas of Australia there has been numerous report of some frost damage to some crops but it is still too early to estimate the true extent of the damage. This will become clearer in the coming weeks.
Western Australia
- Demand in the WA market has remained static and overall market forces have gone unchanged this week. With this said, there has been comments from WA outlining the possibility of frost damage to early sown crops with wheat being the most likely crop impacted.
- For the better part, farmers and exporters are monitoring crops hoping to start harvesting soon.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- The hay harvest is continuing with buyers seeming to prefer to purchase new season hay.
- Drier conditions are limiting dryland pasture growth and this is seeing more irrigation used which may result in higher prices depending where hay is sourced.
- Contractors have commented that the crops are yielding lower than last year’s harvest but quality has been good.
- With steady demand in the region prices remain unchanged for the week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $390/t). Prices remain firm this week.
Darling Downs
- Barley crops have been the focus for contractors with crops are looking on par with last year’s good results.
- Colder conditions are effecting curing times, seeing hay on the ground for a longer period of time than desired. Buyers are encouraged to seek feed tests as a result.
- Forward bought hay is moving into grazing areas in the western part of the state for cattle farmers.
- Some of the first oaten hay has been reported to be cut but the majority of the harvest is at least another two weeks away.
- Lucerne hay dropped in price and this has been a result of some crops coming off and restocking low supplies.
- Demand remains firm in the market but growers are focusing on filling forward contracts.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 (350 to $380/t).Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$5 ($450 to $500/t). Prices have decreased 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
- Slow pasture growth in the past two weeks which has seen farmers feeding out hay to stock.
- Overall, the beef industry continues to make up a large proportion of the sales in the region on the back of good beef prices.
- There was a noted price decline for cereal hay in the region due to mainly lower quality hay being available.
- The harvest is expected to get underway in four weeks’ time and as previously reported at least average yields are expected.
- Cereal hay: -$10 ($230 to $290/t). Prices have decreased this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. Limited reports of trading in sufficient quantities to be able to determine a price.
Central West NSW
- Continued rainfall sees farmers remain optimistic about the coming harvest.
- Some farmers have commented that the season could not be better where the rain has been falling and crops are progressing well.
- Stocks of cereal hay are low for the time of year due to the firm demand fueled by colder weather.
- The colder conditions are applying pressure to early sown cereal crops, pointing towards the need to harvest earlier than normal.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($340 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($150/t). Limited trade and pricing remains steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. There are no reports of pasture trading.
Bega Valley
- Continued rainfall is making it challenging to make it difficult to make high quality silage. However many farmers are aiming to start on silage next week.
- Contractors are preparing for summer crop plantings with farmers predicating a dry summer and looking to increase on farm feed production and stores.
- There are reports that farmers are starting to use hay in cattle rations to try and reduce the amount of paddock feed consumed.
- As we are on the cusp of the silage and hay harvest, the majority of buyers holding off on purchases waiting to see what the new season will bring.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($270 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($330 to $390/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($180 to $200/t). Straw prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Commentary from the market has indicated that farmers have begun irrigating crops due to the poor growing condition over winter.
- The silage harvest has commenced and without rain next week contractors expected to be in full swing in three weeks’ time.
- High quality straw is available at competitive prices and buyers are tending to choose this in preference to hay.
- Overall crops in the area are down on yields and reports have emerged that areas in the north west of the state are harvesting vetch crops to capture quality and prevent further losses.
- The low stock of cereal hay has influenced buyers to purchase lower quality old season fodder which has prevented any prices rises.
- High quality cereal straw has been exhausted and it is unlikely to be available until the new seasons harvest is produced.
- Cereal hay: -$5 ($210 to $260/t). Prices have decreased this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($310 to $360/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +$5 ($80 to $110/t). Straw prices have increased this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $180/t). Pricing remains steady this week.
Gippsland
- There is a large spread in seasonal conditions across Gippsland, ranging from good to poor. This is seeing some areas focus on using hay to stretch paddock feed while other areas prepare for an above average fodder harvest.
- The silage harvest is only a number of weeks away and dairy farmers are rationing out any remaining hay in preparation.
- If an average harvest is achieved this should replenish hay stocks in most areas in Gippsland.
- Buyers are seeking pasture hay to carry cattle through to September.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($350 to $410/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +$5 ($180 to $240/t). Prices have increased this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Southwest hay markets had some small movements this week with buyers showing little interest.
- There are opportunities for buyers seeking straw with some good quality product entering market at competitive prices.
- Commentary from the market has highlighted that some vetch crops may be harvested as early as next week in the Wimmera and Mallee. These predictions are preventing any large purchases for now.
- Good pricing for both beef and lamb has seen a higher number of purchases from the livestock sector resulting in an increase in pasture hay prices.
- Cereal hay: -$5 ($230 to $260/t). Prices have declined this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($310 to $350/t). Remain steady this week.
- Straw: -$5 ($110 to $140/t). Prices have declined this week.
- Pasture hay: +$5 ($180 to $230/t). Prices have increased this week.
Southeast South Australia
- Coastal areas have experienced further rainfall boosting pasture production.
- Farmers are preparing for the silage harvest which is expected to begin this week or early next.
- Hay sellers have highlighted that there is downward pressure on hay prices due to low stocks of high quality hay however this has not resulted in a price change this week.
- There have also been reports of frost damage to some crops in the region. The extent of the damage is yet to be assessed with growers still making decisions on cutting crops or taking them through to grain.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Central South Australia
- This week we noted both contractors and growers expressing concern over the potential impact of frosts on cereal crops.
- There is large interest coming from the cattle sector, both beef and dairy, for hay. This demand saw prices in the region lift this week.
- Early sown crops are maturing quicker than usual with harvest expected to start in the coming weeks.
- Throughout the region the season is looking good with farmers holding a positive outlook for hay stocks.
- The low volumes of hay in Central SA combined with steady demand saw prices increase this week.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($220 to $280/t). Prices have increased this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: N/A. No reported trading.
Southwest Western Australia
- For yet another week there has been no change to the Western Australian hay market.
- We have had reports of frost damage to crops; however is too soon to comment on how widespread and serious the damage is.
- Interest from the domestic market remains subdued. However it is expected that this will increased as the harvest commences and buyers look to secure hay.
- No price changes as a result of minimal trading occurring.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($200 to $220/t). Prices remain steady.
- 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.
Northwest Tasmania
- There has been a break in the drier conditions in Tasmania with good rainfall recorded across the dairy and hay growing regions.
- Some early irrigation on pasture is in use, being seen as a more cost effective option than buying fodder at current prices.
- All stocks of fodder, including straw, are running low and buyers are placing little importance on quality.
- Contractors have reported huge interest from livestock farmers for sowing down cereals for hay and silage after the depletion of state wide stocks. This is not expected to impact the spot market.
- Demand remains high with limited paddock feed available.
- There have been no price changes this week despite demand remaining as buyers are showing a preference for lower quality product.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($310 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($170 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($190 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.