National Summary
- This week we heard similar reports around the nation of a generally slow hay market and limited interest in buying. A number of farmers are attributing this to the time of year and a likely return to what is shaping up to be a ‘normal’ spring. Rainfall continues to fall steadily around the country and the combination of good pasture availability and positive looking crops have created an optimistic outlook for farmers.
- Tight cash flow and in some areas limited supply of hay are adding to the slow market. There are comments that suggest this lull will now continue until prices ease as farmers try a get rid of last season’s stock.
Northern Australia
- There were limited reports of hay trading in the North this week. Most farmers have seemingly secured enough fodder for the months ahead and a return to good pasture availability is limiting any urgency to buy.
- A reduction in the number of cattle through good beef prices is also contributing to the slow market. Most hay buying and movement is now being driven by small volumes for cattle weaning.
Southern Australia
- The good start to the season continues for most Southern regions. Some farmers in parts of Victoria and Tasmania are now hoping for a break from rainfall.
- Good pasture availability is easing the demand for hay however the majority of farmers continue to buy in small volumes. Tight cash flow positions for many dairy businesses continue to influence buying behaviour, but buyers in even the hardest hit regions continued to re-entered the market in a small way this week.
- Due to the pace of the market there’s little room for large changes in hay prices. Most hay traders don’t expect major changes for a number of weeks.
Western Australia
- In the West the initial reports of a positive start to the cropping season is now being dialled back. Early crops continue to grow ahead of schedule but those planted later have been stunted by frost and generally cold weather.
- There continues to be a low supply of hay in the West keeping prices to a premium, and with less rainfall further North, demand remains steady.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- There were no major changes to hay prices this week.
- Reports indicate this is due to good beef prices leading many farmers to destock, and the now plentiful pasture in the majority of the region.
- Comments suggest there are good stores of hay available in the region however traders have noted they are experiencing difficulty moving it as most buyers have secured enough fodder for the coming months.
- Some farmers are reporting that ongoing rainfall is now starting to interrupt activities such as spraying.
- With the current slow state of the market, dependent mostly on cattle weaning and with no boat cattle arriving any time soon, little change is expected for some months.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remained steady this week with the large price spread reflecting the increased cost of producing irrigated hay.
Darling Downs
- Demand continues to be low in most of the region resulting in no changes to the hay market this week.
- Most farmers are attributing this to less stock in the region off the back of good beef prices, and also a generally good start to the new season.
- Limited demand is also being added to by wet roads causing difficulties in transporting cattle to feedlots.
- Coastal areas have experienced particularly good rainfall but further west only patchy drizzle is being noted.
- Reports suggest there will be little change in the market until harvest however prices could ease as farmers try and offload last season’s hay.
- With hay prices yet to ease a number of farmers are utilising feed alternatives such as cotton seeds and almond hulls.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $340/t). Prices for cereal hay remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($430 to $500/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
- No changes to the hay market this week as good pasture availability and full sheds off the back of a strong previous season limit urgency to buy.
- The region has also experienced a good start to the new season with plentiful rainfall helping crops along.
- Reports indicate that due to the current positive situation there are no expected major changes in demand in the coming weeks.
- We could see prices ease soon though as hay growers try to move feed in a slow market.
- As has been the case for some time, there is the continued issue of weather damaged hay in the region. We recommended carefully inspecting fodder before purchase and using a trusted supplier.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($280 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 180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Central West NSW
- There were no changes to hay prices this week with demand remaining well back from previous weeks.
- This lowered demand is mostly due to a strong start for crops throughout the region, with the exception of those patches that had too much rain.
- A similar start has been felt in Victoria further reducing demand and taking pressure off supply.
- Reports indicate farmers will continue to buy in small volumes, as cool temperatures set in.
- The hay available in the region is of variable quality. Some is badly weathered damaged and we recommend a feed test and careful inspection of the product.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($270 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week; however comments suggest that due to a steady increase in demand a limited supply, lucerne prices could increase in the coming weeks.
- 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 positive start to the season is yet to show signs of letting up for Bega and with good supplies of home-grown feed the market remains stagnant.
- This has resulted in limited trading over the past few months and off the back of this, no change to prices.
- There is limited hay available in the region, however with the continued rainfall this is looking like not being the issue it could have been,
- The only downside for Bega is that with the rainfall have come some issues noted with hay quality, so careful inspection is recommended when looking to buy.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($230 to $280/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 continues but was limited in the region this week with most farmers having secured enough feed for the coming months.
- Good rainfall has resulted in a solid start to the season and provided a positive outlook for growers.
- There have been comments from farmers that they expect a return to a more ‘normal’ spring based on the season so far.
- There is limited hay available within the region so buyers are looking further afield which due to freight costs is preventing prices from easing.
- Small volumes continue to head to the South West and Gippsland, but supply and restricted cash flow are holding back any great increases in this market.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week however there is limited availability.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week however this is based on limited trading.
Gippsland
- Farmers in the area continue to buy in small and conservative volumes but the limited hay moving meant no changes to prices this week.
- Reports indicate that demand remains relatively high, but has eased in the past month with the return of good pasture availability.
- Prices remain high due to a lack of supply in the region. Almost all fodder is being purchased from outside the region, as far away as central SA.
- To combat high prices feed alternative such as palm kernel and almond hulls are being favoured by farmers.
- There was also a greater push for straw noted this week.
- With the positive start to the cropping season and tight cash flow situations common throughout the region, reports indicate many farmers will focus on home grown feed for the coming season.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($350 to $410/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($130 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Farmers continue to buy in small volumes in a hand to mouth manner, keeping the market slow and preventing major price changes.
- The style of buying can be attributed to a positive start to the season and good pasture availability. .
- Most of the hay purchased in the region is still coming from SA or Northern Victoria. Reports suggest that fodder coming from Southern NSW seems to have slowed.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($340 to $360/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($150 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $220/t).Prices remain steady this weekhowever there is little to no pasture hay available in the region at present.
Southeast South Australia
- Hay trading in the region has slowed significantly in recent weeks. There were no price changes as a result of this however with reports indicating prices a holding strong.
- Buying from Vic has slowed somewhat and within the region as good rainfall generates good pasture.
- Comments suggest most farmers in the region have stored enough stocks of fodder.
- Nevertheless there still appears to be good volumes of fodder available within the region.
- Cereal hay: $0+/- ($220 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($310 to $350/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 however there is little to no pasture hay trading.
Central South Australia
- No change has been noted this week in the region as limited hay trading is now being done.
- There have been a number of comments suggesting that there are still good volumes of hay in the region.
- The already small demand from the domestic sector in Central SA has eased as most farmers have long stored enough fodder for themselves and demand from Vic has slowed.
- The export market continues to see hay trucks transporting hay across the region; however the majority of this hay was contracted months ago and is having limited impact on the current prices.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $250/t). No change in prices this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- 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
- What was noted as a positive start to the cropping season has now been dialled back for some regions.
- While most of WA has received good rainfall, with some areas commenting that they are getting too wet, some areas in Southwest WA have received only limited rainfall.
- Cool conditions have been noted as stunting growth the later crops but the earlier planted crops seems to be still running well ahead of schedule.
- Last year’s poor season resulted in the amount of hay made measure well below average across West, so despite the low demand now, limited supply is keeping prices up at the moment.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $310/t). Prices remained steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($470 to $520/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week..
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to 200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Northwest Tasmania
- Reports are now indicating that most farmers are hoping for a reprieve from widespread rainfall in the Northwest but crops continue a mostly positive start.
- The cool temperatures are keeping demand for purchased fodder high at the moment, also keeping prices to a premium.
- Milk price cuts continue to limit buying in the region due to farmer’s tight cash flow.
- It appears most farmers with buy the bare minimum in feed throughout winter and there will be a focus on home-grown fodder this season.
- Cereal hay: +$0 ($280 to $310/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($335 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($170 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.