National Summary
- There were few changes to hay prices this week as limited trading took place across the country. Most growers are now focussed on the new season ahead with comments on the outlook predominantly positive. A soft winter has ensured good growth for crops from North to South but for many, the right curing conditions will be the difference in order to transfer this into quality fodder. Farmers are warning hay producers to take care when producing hay this season, as high moisture is likely resulting in a number of risk issues for the market.
- While there is still good volumes of hay being traded, new orders are scarce, as farmers now seem reluctant to enter the market. We expect to see this slow, stagnant market continue until new season hay has fully entered the market.
Northern Australia
- As is now seemingly the case for a number of regions around the country, the North has experienced a real downturn in hay trading. Good pasture availability from consistent rainfall and a promising season ahead are creating less urgency for purchased fodder.
- The main buyers in the market continue to be feedlotters and farmers weaning cattle. Beef producers are having limited impact as good beef prices have seen a number of farmers destock.
Southern Australia
- In many parts of the country’s South, demand for fodder remains relatively high. Milk price cuts have had a detrimental impact on dairy farmers ability to purchase in larger volumes, and the addition of good rain and pasture availability has slowed the market.
- This rainfall has had mixed results on crops with some farmers reporting difficulty when spraying. As mentioned above, tight cash flow could see more farmers try and focus on home grown fodder this season with quality varied and dependent on good curing conditions.
Western Australia
- Hay prices in the West are still yet to show any signs of easing despite a slowing in demand due to good pasture availability. This resilience of prices is reportedly due to the limited supply which exists in the region after last year’s poor season.
- Prices are not expected to change significantly until new season stocks hit the market. The price of this will be heavily dependent on the export price as this generally underpins the domestic market in the West.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- The slow pace of the market and minimal trading in the region resulted in no obvious changes to hay prices this week.
- Good beef prices have resulted in a number of farmers destocking and with more plentiful pasture than in recent years, demand is particularly low.
- Farmers are reporting a positive outlook for the season ahead due to a good winter so far.
- Fodder available in the region continues to be of varied quality. We recommend careful inspection of the product before purchase and using a trusted supplier.
- Some farmers are reporting that ongoing rainfall is now starting to interrupt activities such as spraying.
- Due to the current slow state of the market, dependent mostly on cattle weaning and with no exportcattle departing any time soon by boat, 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
- Limited trading took place this week which resulted in no price movement.
- Patchy rainfall continues in the region and reports indicate a good start to the season with the exception of the region’s dry Southeast.
- Despite prices easing last week to free up a stagnant market, this has had little impact overall on trading.
- It seems most farmers are now feeding hand to mouth or sitting out of the market completely until new season feed hits the market.
- Good beef prices have resulted in a reduction in the amount of cattle in the region, also weakening demand.
- Pasture availability continues to be good in most parts of the region.
- Feed alternatives such as cotton seeds and almond hulls are still being purchased by farmer seeking cheaper feed.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($270 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($400 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
- The generally low demand region wide continued this week with few reports of trading.
- Prices remained steady this week after easing previously. Despite the lowering of prices it seems most farmers are sitting out of the market.
- Reports indicate that to have the bumper season now being predicted, good curing conditions are essential as rainfall continues.
- As has been the case for some time, there is the continued issue with weather damaged hay in the region. We recommended carefully inspection of fodder before purchase and using a trusted supplier.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $310/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($280 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 limited changes to prices this week, however reports indicate a steady increase in enquiry.
- There are now a number of trucks transporting fodder to the north coast as well as throughout the region.
- This week growers saw a gap in rainfall and are utilising the time to spray crops before more forecast showers return on the weekend.
- The constant rainfall has waterlogged some crops and growers are reporting some yellowing and stunting.
- Generally, there is a consensus that crops are looking much better than last year. Good curing conditions will be essential to see this transferred into quality hay.
- The hay currently 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 before purchase.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +$15 ($300 to $350/t). Prices rose at the bottom end this week due to limited supply.
- 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
- There continues to be little to no hay trading taking place in the Bega region as most farmers have acquired enough fodder for the coming weeks and are sitting out of the market.
- Over a month of dry conditions have left the region well placed for another bumper season with some crops now roughly a week away from cutting.
- There continues to be good pasture availability in the region, however farmers are hoping for some more rainfall in the next few weeks.
- As growers try and move poorer quality fodder in the coming months, including weather damaged hay, this could see an easing of prices.
- 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
- Limited trading took place this week with only small amounts available in the region.
- This lack of supply, despite tight cash flow for many farmers, is preventing easing of prices.
- There are still small orders coming in as farmers feed only small volumes because of good pasture availability.
- Reports indicate hay prices should remain the same until the new season feed makes its way onto the market but there is a reluctance to predict the quality or price of the new season product.
- The rainfall on crops has had a varied impact so far; some are reporting a great start and a likely return to a ‘normal’ spring, while others are having difficulty with too much moisture.
- Fodder heading to Gippsland and South West Victoria has slowed significantly.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($230 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($320 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($130 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
- Despite a high demand continuing from the region, there was a reluctance from most farmers to purchase any more feed than the bare minimum this week as reports indicate many will rely on home grown fodder to provide cheaper feed next season.
- Heavy rainfall continues to soak the region and is providing a good start to crops and pasture availability for some but causing issues and waterlogging for others.
- Comments suggest that most trading is now being done at the bottom of the pricing scale as a number of growers try and get rid of excess stock.
- Palm kernel and almond hulls are still being favoured by farmers as a cost effective alternative to hay.
- 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
- This week saw a very slow market in the Southwest as focus was firmly on new crops and looking ahead to the coming season.
- There was a slight rise in pasture hay that reflects some fodder coming into the market at the high end.
- Other than this, interest is slow and with good pasture availability, urgency is low for hay and straw purchases..
- Comments suggest that while some crops in the region are too wet, the vast majority are showing good growth.
- Poor dairy prices continue to limit dairy farmers ability to buy.
- Farmers are reluctant to comment on the new season price and are watching the market carefully..
- Dry curing conditions are essential to see this strong, start turn into a good season.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $300/t). Prices remain eased at the bottom end of the pricing scale 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 however most straw is now trading at the lower end of the scale.
- Pasture hay: +$10 ($180 to $240/t).Prices rose this week due to the limited supply available in the region.
Southeast South Australia
- Trading in the region remains slow with limited farmer activity in the market.
- Like most neighbouring regions, the Southeast has experienced a good start to the season and with good stocks still available in sheds there is little immediacy for buyers.
- Prices remained steady this week after easing over the past fortnight. Farmers anticipate little change now until new season fodder enters the market.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remained steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($290 to $340/t). Prices remained 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
- Once again there were no changes to hay prices or trading in the region as demand remains low.
- Reports indicate good supply is still available in the region and most farmers have filled sheds and are sitting out of the market.
- The already small demand from the domestic sector in Central SA has eased as most farmers have stored enough fodder for their own use 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 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 there a limited reports of trading.
- Pasture hay: N/A. No reported trading.
Southwest Western Australia
- Low demand and limited trading were reported for the region this week, mostly driven by good pasture availability.
- Prices are yet to ease which could be the case for some time due to such a limited supply of hay in the West.
- Rainfall in the region has been varied throughout winter. Some areas are commenting that they are getting too wet, while others in Southwest WA have received only limited rainfall.
- There also seems to be a real divide in the growth of early and late crops. Cool conditions have stunted later crops but the earlier planted crops seem to be still running well ahead of schedule.
- 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
- There were no changes to hay prices this week after last fortnight’s easing of cereal and straw prices
- High demand exists throughout Tasmania however reports indicate poor milk prices are keeping a number of farmers out of the market or restricting them to a last minute approach to feeding.
- Heavy rainfall has had mixed results on the region’s crops with some growers reporting the prolonged wet conditions are having an adverse impact.
- It appears most farmers with buy the bare minimum of feed throughout winter and there will be a focus on home-grown fodder this season.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($270 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($335 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($160 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.