National Summary
- This week we have seen a growing divide in the levels of activity in the hay markets on the east coast, with the north remaining fairly quiet off the back of rain, while in southern regions there is a growing demand for hay driven by ongoing dry conditions. This trend is not likely to turn around quickly, and given the general lower than average hay production noted in most regions for 2015 is suggesting that hay may be in tight supply through 2016.
Northern Australia
- The demand for purchased fodder has slowed somewhat in the past week as buyers in drought affected areas are hopeful recent rain will provide some feed. While the rain is yet to result in paddock feed it has provided a positive outlook which right now is translating to less interest in buying hay.
- The scattered rain that continues along the coastal areas is providing good pasture growth conditions but is also providing poor curing conditions and having a negative impact on hay quality.
Southern Australia
- With hot dry conditions continuing this week we have noted an increase in the enquiries for hay this week and an accompanying price rise.
- High demand continues, particularly in Gippsland and Tasmania off the back of a poor spring. At this point supply has yet to meet the demand of these regions and we encourage buyers get in contact with suppliers to ensure enough feed through summer.
- In SA limited activity in the hay market has been noted again as little hay is being traded as fire affected areas continue to focus on clean up and others start to feed out silage.
Western Australia
- The WA ha market is best described as slow at present with limited movement on the domestic market, and the trading for the export sector being mostly completed. It was noted this week that there are large volumes of straw being made.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- The demand for outsourced fodder remains low this week. This is due to a combination of continued scattered rainfall and good on farm pasture availability.
- There was also a general trend noted of less demand from beef producers (including those weaning cattle) rainfall reaches some drought affected areas giving a positive outlook for the weeks ahead.
- Growers who have a window of dry weather from the rain are harvesting mostly Rhodes grass at present and some are now planting summer crops.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Darling Downs
- Scattered rainfall events over the Christmas/ New Year period have resulted in a slowing of the hay market in the region this week.
- Rain has reached some drought affected areas however we are seeing continued demand from beef producers.
- Some growers are now planting summer crops, while the focusing on hay making is on Lucerne and some straw.
- 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
- Continued rain has kept the region’s hay market quiet and most buyers are focusing on home grown feed rather than buying in fodder.
- Feedlots and beef businesses in central NSW and QLD are keeping the market going but are having little impact on price at present.
- There have been reports that due to continued rainfall during harvest there is a large variation in hay quality in the region and therefore careful inspection of hay prior to purchase is recommended.
- Reports indicate good volume of second grade pasture hay is available but limited amounts are being traded at this stage.
- 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
- Continued scattered rain is still making baling difficult for growers and keeping the market generally quiet.
- Storms that occurred late last year have resulted in hay of varied quality being available in the area. Potential buyers are urged to get a feed analysis and/or use a trusted supplier to help guarantee quality.
- At this stage supply around the region is meeting demand however, we do urge prospective buyers to ensure they have enough to get through to autumn as buying is expected to become more difficult toward the end of summer.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $290/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($340 to $380/t). Prices remain steady this week however it was noted in the market this week that sheep farmers are buying low grade lucerne for protein at around $250/t.
- 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
- The favourable growing conditions continue to see good availability of paddock feed, resulting in good silage yields and limited interest in buying hay into the region. At this stage it is expected that there will be lower than average demand for hay coming into the region.
- Farmers in the region continue to focus on utilising home grown feed rather than buy in hay.
- We continue to hear positive reposts on silage yields and it is expected that most farmers will have enough to see them 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.
- Despite good yields of for hay and silage in the region there is likely to be strong demand for protein hay in the coming year. 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
- Interest for hay in the Goulburn/ Murray Valley region continues to be quiet this week and prices have remained steady.
- Quality cereal hay is in high demand in the region but reports indicate most of this season’s supply has been sold or stored. However there are reports that weather damaged cereal hay is available for around $150/t.
- There are only limited amounts of vetch is still available but it is selling 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 this may change in the coming weeks as the new seasons straw becomes available.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Gippsland
- The region’s hay market is still seeing lots of activity as high demand continues in dry conditions. This demand is not expected to slow in the coming weeks.
- The eastern part of the region has experienced helpful rain in recent weeks however the south continues to have limited pasture availability and is experiencing a tough season for crops. It has also been noted in some areas that stock water is becoming scarce, further highlighting the impact of the dry season.
- It was noted this week that there is limited availability of lower priced hay, especially for lucerne, with many having to purchasing protein hay at the top end of price bracket.
- Cereal hay: +$15 ($250 to $300/t). Prices have seen a slight increase in price due to high demand.
- Lucerne hay: +$15 ($340 to $410/t). Prices rose this week, driven by mainly higher quality hay being available.
- 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
- The dry weather continues across the region resulting in a trend of increasing hay prices. While there were some small rainfall events noted these have had little to no impact and buyers are looking to secure fodder for what looks to be a dry period ahead.
- Much of the hay being delivered now is coming straight out of the paddock, however as growers start to shed hay it is expected that there will be an increase of around $10-20/t in the coming weeks.
- Hay buyers have started to feed out silage and use stored feed which has meant less hay moving this week.
- Cereal hay: +$18 ($200 to $250/t). Prices seen an $18 rise this week due to less hay being available out of the paddock.
- Lucerne hay: +$10 ($280 to $360/t). Prices have experienced a rise 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
- There were no price changes recorded this week in Southeast South Australia due to limited trading throughout the region.
- Rain during baling has caused some hay quality issues in the region so careful inspection is advised when purchasing fodder.
- This week second cut lucerne was noted hitting the market, trading at $280/t.
- The slowing of the hay trade in the region is being attributed to most buyers either having now stored enough fodder or waiting out for high prices to go down.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week however; limited hay is now available at the bottom end of the price bracket.
- 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
- Very limited trading has been reported over the past week in the region as the focus remains on the clean-up of the Pinery bushfires.
- 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
- Reports indicate the region is experiencing a dry summer, similar to that of 2010. Areas closer to the grain belt however have received the opposite with patches of wet conditions being noted.
- The reports of fires in the Waroona area this week are not expected to have a large impact on fodder availability, however it is expected that there may be a localised increase in demand from affected livestock farmers.
- There was comment this week that limited volumes of irrigated lucerne now being traded at premium prices.
- Prices have remained steady in the domestic market which continues to be directed by the export hay market.
- High availability of feed grain in the region is providing buyers with a competitive alternative to hay.
- 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
- Hot and dry conditions continue throughout the region resulting in the continuation of high demand for purchased fodder.
- There are reports of some very high prices being paid for hay however it should be noted that this is often for small volumes of hay is moving to hobbie farmers. The prices being reported for these small volume orders are not reflective of what higher volume buyers such as dairy farmers are prepared to pay.
- Hay growers with irrigation will be invaluable to Tasmania in seeing enough available fodder for the region through to autumn. In addition to this we understand that there has been some interest shown in bringing in hay from the mainland.
- 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: +/-$0 ($335 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($170 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week still working off last season’s straw.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.