National Summary
- The hay market was mostly quiet this week as buyers look to fill the last of their sheds before the summer. After a positive looking start throughout most of the country some regions in the South are facing dry conditions while others wait for storms to subside giving them a window to finish harvest.
Northern Australia
- Wet weather and storms continue to limit hay trading along the coast as bailing is interrupted and good pasture preventing the need for outsourced fodder.
- Some of the dry inland regions received rains this week. While it has been positively received the impact of the rains on feed availability and the hay market is not yet clear.
Southern Australia
- Hay trading continues to be slow in most Southern regions this week as most growers finish baling. It was also noted this week that some farmers have started feeding out hay and silage, earlier than typical in many areas.
- Southern Gippsland and Tasmania are both experiencing continued dry conditions off the back of a poor spring. Local fodder supplies in these regions are struggling to meet demand and buyers with a known need for fodder are advised to get in contact with suppliers to ensure enough feed through summer.
- The South Australian areas impacted by fires are still focused on recovery and clean up rather than the hay market and are having little impact on the hay market at this stage.
Western Australia
- Limited price movement again this week in the West with export prices remaining steady setting the upper end of the market. However good availability of feed grain is putting downward pressure on domestic hay prices.
- Some movement is expected as lower quality hay not suitable for export is becoming more common.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Hay prices remain steady this week as scattered storms continue and slow demand for purchased feed.
- Farmers weaning cattle and beef producers in general continue to support the market.
- Reports indicate that good quality irrigated hay is moving quickly however its availability is limited due to the low number of growers with access to irrigation water.
- Some growers continue to harvest Rhodes grass while others are now planting summer crops such a corn.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $400/t).>Prices remain steady this week.
Darling Downs
- Hay prices remain steady this week and scattered wet weather seen some interruptions to growers still making hay.
- In inland areas, dry conditions persist and demand from beef producers looking to maintain condition on cattle is keeping the market moving.
- The key buyers active in the market at present continue to be beef producers.
- There were reports this week that some growers are now planting summer crops and harvesting of lucerne hay and straw also continue.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($430 to $480/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($140 to $180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($260 to $310/t). Prices remain steady this week.
North Coast NSW
- More rain in the region has meant little movement in the market this week.
- Regular sales continue to local feedlots and larger beef businesses in central NSW and QLD however demand is low regionally due to good pasture availability.
- There is a wide variation in the quality of hay available due to continued rainfall during harvest, Careful inspection of hay prior to purchase is recommended.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($260 to $310/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 (130 to 150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Central West NSW
- Reports continue to indicate hay of varied quality is being traded in the area. Potential buyers are urged to get a feed analysis and/or use a trusted supplier to help guarantee quality.
- Having had some good weather for baling over the past fortnight lucerne growers are trying to get rid of there first cuts to make room in the shed for better quality feed.
- At this stage supply around the region is meeting demand however this is expected to run out early into the New Year. Anyone with a known need for fodder for the coming season should get in contact with suppliers to ensure supply.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $290/t). Prices remain steady this week but most trading is being done above $250/t.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($340 to $380/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($130 to 150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. There are no reports of pasture trading.
Bega Valley
- Sources report that due to a good spring and high pasture availability, buyers in the region will only require around half the amount of hay the region typically buys.
- Many buyers are looking to utilise home grown feed rather than buy in hay.
- There is also good supply of domestic silage that should see growers through summer.
- Reports indicate a lot of the hay that has been harvested so far has been weather damaged so potential buyers should get a feed analysis and inspect hay before buying.
- There is likely to be strong demand for protein hay in the coming year for the Bega region. Based on the impact rain has had on lucerne quality we expect a premium to be placed on high quality lucerne (non-rain damaged hay).
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($330 to $380/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($160 to $180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Hay trading the Goulburn/ Murray Valley region continues to be quiet this week and prices have remained steady.
- As a result of less hay being made in the region, prospective hay buyers are encouraged to assess their feed supply for the coming season and talk to their supplier now.
- The most active buyers in the market are beef farmers and chaff mills, both still active in the market and paying premium prices for high quality oaten hay.
- Some vetch is available but at premium prices due to low yields this year.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($190 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($80 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week however straw is in limited supply.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Gippsland
- Recent storms brought little relief to dry conditions as moisture dried up quickly.
- Some buyers are taking advantage of good beef prices to offload unwanted stock, and then using these funds to buy enough feed for summer.
- While many areas in the region are having a good season there are a number or areas, predominantly in Southern Gippsland, where pasture availability is limited and farmers are relying on feeding silage and hay.
- Farmers purchasing protein hay are meeting market prices of up to $410/t.
- Some over the fence trading is occurring as buyers look close to home to avoid paying transport costs. Supply locally is low across the board however.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week but high demand could see further increase.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($320 to $410/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week. No new season straw has entered the market yet.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $230/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Hay prices remained steady again this week in the southwest and are expected to stay this way in coming weeks.
- Little hay is available at the bottom end of the market (below $200/t) with mostly high quality hay being produced in the region.
- Hay buyers have started to use some of their stored feed which has resulted in less hay moving this week.
- There are good amounts of premium quality hay still available in the region.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $235/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $120/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $220/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southeast South Australia
- The hay market saw no major changes this week as little hay is traded in the region.
- Hay shed fires have occurred in the region this season. We urge buyers to get a feed analysis and take care when storing hay.
- Baling has mostly finished in the region except for some growers still baling irrigated Lucerne.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week however; limited hay is now available at the bottom end.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Central South Australia
- While the focus in Central SA remains on fire recovery and completing the grain harvest there was some interest noted this week in the fodder market, in particular for protein hay.
- Export buyers are still setting the pricing of cereal hay in the region however much of this trading has already been done.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($200 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week with equal levels of interest in vetch and medic hay.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $120/t). Prices remain steady this week however given the impact of the fires there may be shortages of straw into 2016.
- Pasture hay: N/A. No reported trading.
Southwest Western Australia
- Export hay currently dominates the market however; lower grade hay is expected to enter the domestic market as demand increases.
- Reports indicate a high availability of feed grain in this region is likely to influence the hay market in the coming weeks as farmers seek lower price feed options.
- Lower than average yields have been reported this season throughout the region.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($470 to $520/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week; however this is based on limited trading.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to 200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Northwest Tasmania
- The hot dry weather has continued this week in Tasmania adding further pressure to the hay market resulting in a general price increase.
- Pasture hay and silage are particularly sought after this week and there were large volumes of both being noted on the road. Much of this is going to dairy farms and a large amount of the silage is being transported as unwrapped bales, which are then wrapped on delivery.
- Hay growers with access to irrigation are being kept busy applying water to keep growing and will be essential to keeping the fodder market supplied for summer.
- While the focus is on bulk hay there is a very strong market for small bales for hobby farmers also with reports of small squares of lucerne fetching over $20 a bale.
- Buyers with a known need for hay in 2016 are advised to contact suppliers as soon as possible to ensure their needs can be met.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices steady this week, there are also reports of cereal silage trading well.
- Lucerne hay: +$15 ($335 to $370/t). Prices increased this week remain steady this week but expected to rise in coming weeks.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($170 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week still working off last season’s straw.
- Pasture hay: +$35 ($250 to $280/t). A price rise was noted this week driven by strong demand.