National Summary
- This week the harvest continued as the primary focus around the country with limited hay trading reported. Changes we did see were a number of price reductions, as an influx of new season feed entered a competitive market. With many regions still yet to produce any new season hay, it’s likely that more changes will occur over the coming fortnight. Demand remains low generally, with many farmers continuing to sit out of the market and utilise home grown fodder, or to wait until the new season’s situation is realised.
- The nation has experienced mostly dry conditions for some weeks now following a wet start to spring. This has had a widely positive impact of both hay quality and the quantity being produced. It is still expected that the majority of hay made will be below the quality of last year but growers are optimistic that end users requirements will be met.
Northern Australia – Summary
- Reports from the ongoing harvest in Northern regions are mixed but overall there seems to be a generally good supply being produced.
- Feed tests from the earliest new season feed show that this year’s fodder is off a lower quality than the previous year.
- Along the coast, reports indicate some areas have become very dry and will struggle to produce large volumes of fodder at competitive prices.
- Little hay is being traded at this time outside of small volume purchases and long term contracts.
- Buying is expected to start again once the harvest is complete and the fodder situation is fully realised.
- Some regions in the North and in particular to the West, fodder production is well above average.
- Patches of rain during harvest have caused some yellowed and weather damaged hay.
- Hay prices have begun to ease due to an influx of supply and a general reduction in quality.
Southern Australia – Summary
- Positive reports were received from Southern farmers harvesting crops this week.
- Good yields are resulting in large volumes of hay being produced in the key hay making areas.
- Feed tests are showing that quality is still well behind the previous year however weeks of dry weather have limited the amount of mouldy hay.
- New season feed begun trading in the South this week and prices eased a great deal.
- Prices reflect large volumes of poor-to-medium grade feed and a competitive market.
- The hay harvest is still significantly behind schedule in all southern regions which has impacted the nutritional profile of the harvest.
- Limited supply currently remains in sheds.
- As an ongoing consequence of reduced milk pricing, many dairy farmers continue to sit out of the hay market focusing instead on producing their own grass and fodder.
Western Australia – Summary
- At this point the domestic price continues to be underpinned by export as this is the majority of hay that has been made so far.
- The harvest for domestic feed has been delayed a great deal due to rainfall during spring.
- A few weeks of dry conditions have however improved the West’s outlook and good volumes of hay are likely to be produced this season.
- It is possible the West will see an oversupply of lower quality feed damaged by earlier rainfall and frosts.
- There is still relatively low demand generally and most farmers continue to utilise home grown feed where ever possible.
- The Northern section of the region has experienced worse rain damage than other parts.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Consistently dry harvest conditions have led to some quality feed being made in the region.
- Pasture availability is reportedly dwindling though with no substantial rainfall in some time.
- Keeping demand low however is the good supply farmers still have in sheds.
- There aren’t enormous volumes of hay being made this season but growers are still positive that supply will be up from last year.
- There isn’t expected to be any major jump in trading in the coming weeks.
- Farmers weaning cattle continue to be major buyers in the market.
- Comments suggest hay prices could be reduced in the coming weeks as traders/farmers try to compete in what may be a well-supplied market.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($200 to $220/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Note: Hay in the Atherton Tablelands is traditionally priced at $/bale so it is important to check bale weights for conversion to a $/t rate.
Darling Downs
- There continues to be minimal trading in the region and low demand currently being reported.
- Mixed quality is being reported from the region’s grower from this year’s harvest.
- Most are expecting a lower level of feed quality than previous years.
- Some parts of the region experienced an earlier dry finish which is likely to see a rise in demand in the coming month.
- Farmers are now predicting a tighter year for supply than initially thought.
- There are pockets of the region that will produce a lot of hay however particularly to the West due to a more favourable spring.
- Comments suggest most buyers are waiting out of the market in anticipation of cheaper new season feed.
- Good amounts of silage have been produced already in the region and this is reportedly of good quality.
- There continues to be a consistent demand from chaff mills.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($220 to $240/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Lucerne hay +/-$0 ($320 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week. Some new season lucerne has entered the market and is trading at the bottom end of the pricing scale despite being good quality.
- Straw: -$38 ($110 to $160/t). Prices eased this week.
- Pasture hay: N/A at this time.
North Coast NSW
- Despite the growing demand for fodder, we are yet to see much hay traded again in the region.
- The demand is attributed to limited hay in sheds and an early dry finish not experienced by the remainder of the state.
- A price reduction was experienced last week with the introduction of competitive new season fodder into the market, but steadied this week.
- Reports from the harvest are mixed and not overwhelmingly positive.
- Quality is reportedly average but there’s a generally good supply.
- Without consistent rainfall, the abundance of grass feed has dwindled.
- Buying in small quantities for hobbies farms continues but is having no impact on pricing at this point.
- Cereal hay: -$20 ($200 to $230/t). Prices eased 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 no reports of major hay trading this week and harvest remains the primary focus for the region.
- Patches of the region particularly to the North are much further along with harvest than others still experiencing setbacks from the wet start to spring.
- The general theme is that most feed is of a lower quality than last season.
- There are a number of crops in the region that have been damaged due to the sustained wet winter, however things have dried out considerably in the past week.
- Any price reduction will be limited however by the level of supply which is well down this year. Also freight costs weigh heavily into the equation being such a spread-out region.
- Some parts of the region have dried off a great deal and pasture is in short supply.
- Due to the variable quality of fodder in the region, including last year’s hay, we recommend getting a feed test and carefully inspecting the product before purchase.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $350/t) If available and quality dependent.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($130 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 N/A. There are no reports of pasture trading in the region.
Bega Valley
- Growers are reporting a positive start to harvest in the region but little hay is being traded currently.
- A good volume of feed is expected to be produced after a favourable winter for crops.
- Due to looming influx of supply, there is talk of a price reduction in the coming weeks for growers to be competitive.
- Reports indicate good pasture availability remains and this is keeping demand subdued.
- Growers are positive that this season’s harvest will result in back to back strong seasons for hay supply.
- There will be a strong focus on home grown feed this year which could see less hay trading.
- There is still some hay available from last season but quality can be varied so careful inspection prior to purchase is recommended.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($230 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week for good quality hay however poorer quality is selling for around $200/t.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($330 to $380/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($100 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($240 to $260/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Positive reports are coming out of this season’s harvest after a late and uncertain start.
- New season feed is now being traded at competitive pricing due to big yields.
- The region has now experienced little to no rainfall in up to a month. Without further delay, some contractors are looking to be finished harvest in the coming fortnight.
- Comments suggest that feed tests are still likely to show a slump in quality this year compared to last.
- Hay produced is reportedly of good colour and high in fibre though.
- Good pasture availability is evident around the region but hay sheds are empty.
- Growers and hay traders are reporting a number of farmers significantly reducing orders, trying to supply themselves with feed to cut costs.
- There are pockets within the region that will far exceed expectations in terms of supply this year.
- Some crops worst hit by early rain events once destined for hay have been left grain. This includes oaten crops.
- Cereal hay: -$85 ($130 to $180/t). Prices eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$105 ($220 to $240/t). Prices eased this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($110 to $140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: No supply reportedly available.
Gippsland
- A positive outlook is being reported by growers in the region now well into silage harvest.
- Farmers are now assessing their fodder requirements for the coming year but will reportedly look to utilise homegrown fodder as much as possible.
- The region has reportedly missed out on a number of big rain events that damaged crops to the North and West of the state.
- Hay quality is expected to be up this year if good harvesting conditions persist over the coming fortnight.
- Some parts of the region have already begun irrigating.
- Good pasture availability is keeping the demand to a minimum as is the competitive price of grain.
- There is likely to be less fodder transported into the region this year as greater volumes are produced within.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($230 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week however this is based on limited trading. New season fodder available outside the region is significantly cheaper and the same easing is likely in a fortnight’s time.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($350 to $380/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($130 to $160/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Victoria
- New season feed is now being traded in the region which has resulted in prices easing this week.
- The region’s own hay harvest in yet to fully get underway.
- There will be good volumes of hay produced in the region this year but feed quality will be down compared to the last.
- When purchasing fodder this year, obtaining a feed test and mould and yeast tests are recommended to fully determine quality and value.
- Farmers are reporting that a great deal of vetch on the market at the moment is of poor quality. This is trading at between $240-$265/t.
- Good volumes of silage are being made in the region. Growers that have made silage later have had more success in terms of quality.
- There continue to be a low demand form farmer who are utilising home grown feed mostly at this point.
- As a result of the poor dairy situation, a number of farmers have elected to grow more of their own feed this year. This may reduce the amount of hay traded this year generally.
- Cereal hay: -$75 ($130 to $180/t). Prices eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$40 ($280 to $300/t). Prices eased this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $230/t).Prices remain steady this week however there are limited reports of trading.
Southeast South Australia
- Prices eased this week as new season feed enters the market.
- There was still limited trading and reportedly little interest from buyers at this point.
- Harvest is ongoing and bringing some mixed levels of feed in terms of quality.
- Feed tests have shown that hay quality is reportedly well down from the previous year.
- Comments suggest that despite the poor start to spring, good volumes of fodder will still be made this year.
- It is possible that there will be an oversupply for lower quality feed this season and a number of growers will not produce the export quality feed they were aiming for.
- Cereal hay: -$35 ($140 to $200/t). Prices have eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$55 ($240 to $260/t). Prices have eased this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($100 to $120/t). Prices were steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($160 to 240/t) Prices were steady this week. Note that there is limited supply in the region at this time.
Central South Australia
- There has been a strong turnaround in the outlook of growers and contractors in the region, reporting a more positive harvest.
- This has been brought about by weeks of dry weather after a slow and particularly wet start.
- Hay trading has started up again in the region albeit slowly as prices ease with the introduction of this season’s feed.
- The domestic price is closely aligned to the export price and reflects a surplus of mid-low grade fodder.
- Despite this slow market, the area has one of the best supplies of stored premium cereal hay in the country.
- Cereal hay: -$45 ($120 to 180/t). Prices eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$60 ($220 to 260/t). Prices eased this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($100 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: N/A. No reported trading.
Southwest Western Australia
- Due to the major delay to the season with spring rainfall, harvest remains the focus and little hay is current being traded domestically.
- Weeks of dry conditions have resulted in a better than expected harvest so far.
- Patches within the region are expected to produce good quality feed this year.
- Prices eased at the top end this week, reflecting quite closely with what export hay is being purchased at.
- It is likely we will see the more poor quality product enter the market when greater domestic trading starts up and further price reductions.
- Reports indicate hay baled later is producing some good test results from labs.
- Over three quarters of crops in the region were damaged by rain to some extent. Therefore, careful inspection and obtaining a feed test is recommended to ensure value for money.
- Cereal hay: -$10 ($160 to $220/t). Prices eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 (470 to 520). Prices remain steady.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Northwest Tasmania
- There were no changes to hay prices this week as focus remains on the harvest which has been delayed by ongoing patches of wet weather.
- A number of crops have been damaged by frost and rain.
- Feed tests and using a trusted supplier will be paramount this year as quality is likely to be variable.
- The North of the state is reportedly fairing much better in the ongoing harvest having experienced less rain from the recent storms fronts.
- Small volumes continue to be traded around the region however this is yet to really impact the market.
- Off the back of a bad dry year, there is a real shortage of past season’s feed restricting hay trading and any price reduction.
- Also as a result of last year’s tight times, many farmers are looking to cut costs by focussing on home grown fodder this season.
- This may see less hay traded in the region this season.
- Pasture availability remains quite good and is preventing any immediacy to buy.
- Grain prices are also very competitive at the moment resulting in less interest in hay.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($230 to 270/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($330 to 350/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($150 to 170/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($240 to 260/t) Prices remain steady this week.