National Summary
- There is a current sense of change emerging in the fodder market at present. Demand appears to be beginning to firm in packets of eastern regions of Australia, mainly centered around Darling Downs and Central New South Wales and East Gippsland. The southern states of Australia, particularly northern Victoria in the Goulbourn and Murray Valley regions and Bega in southern New South Wales, appear to be accommodating the demand.
- The weather report is quite varied and unpredictable across Australia. The temperate, southern regions of Australia are experiencing tropical weather of high humidity and moisture. Conversely, the northern tropics are experiencing a dry summer, which is causing concern coming into autumn. Spontaneous summer rains are impacting on haymaking activities and quality throughout the country.
- There appears to be little straw harvested this year and it is expected that demand will exceed supply.
- The export industry is beginning to assess new season fodder for shipment overseas. Reports of very high quality product is coming out of Western Australia, however after some persistent late spring and early summer rainfall across Australia, there is some weather damaged hay around.
- Trading generally is slow and dormant in most regions and prices remain steady. Domestic demand is expected to lift as the summer heat dries out pastures.
Northern Australia Summary
- Demand for product in northern Queensland is low, as persistent rainfall coupled with favourable growing temperatures has encouraged on farm grazing. Conversely demand is firming in the south of Queensland as supply is very limited and rain has been absent.
- Securing long term, reliable supplies of quality hay may well be an issue for the north as the year progresses with demand expected to be greater than supply.
- We suggest caution when purchasing fodder at the moment, particularly protein hay, as there continues to be a great deal of variability in what’s being traded.
Southern Australia – Summary
- The region is once again expected to produce more than enough hay this season and will remain a strong source of supply to other regions in need throughout the country; this is being complemented by a good silage year.
- There is also still quite a lot of carryover from 2016 and sheds are full.
- Demand is increasing in East Gippsland and should continue for some time.
- Hay trading is dormant in the south with pockets of enquiry, largely due to late spring weather conducive to growing green pastures.
- There is some silage production and feeding in the southern region, particularly Bega and in West Gippsland.
- Due to high levels of persistent rainfall in spring, we recommend obtaining a mould and yeast test, a feed test, and using a trusted a supplier.
Western Australia – Summary
- Straw harvests are beginning to wind up as they move south.
- There remains reasonable good supply of carryover stocks of low/medium grade hay in the system but care should be exercised when buying this.
- Demand for carryover hay from the northern WA sheep industry is strong and should continue after a dry winter.
- The domestic market is not expected to provide a lift in hay trading until late January.
- Pasture prices remain highly variable depending on the species of grass. Unimproved meadow pasture should fetch lower prices compared to improved sown clover and medic varieties.
- The export industry continues to dominate the WA market and is a solid indicator on pricing. Exporters continue to seek out quality hay and as a result, will set the price in the market for quality hay.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Reports of 25-125mm of steady and soaking rainfall passed through the Tablelands in the last week, which has downgraded some curing pasture.
- Haymaking was put on hold whilst the rain fell but will likely resume over the weekend with an expected break forecasted.
- Local demand remains steady. Some large squares have been moving in the vicinity. It is expected that demand will remain steady for near future.
- Traders will be looking to move old season stock to make room for new season hay in sheds.
- Prices remain steady for this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($200 to $350/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.
Darling Downs
- Darling Downs and southern Queensland region is reportedly quite dry at this time of year, without the usual tropical summer storms and rain.
- Demand in the southeast of the Downs region has picked up, particularly in the equine and cattle industries, and is expected to continue hereon. Prices remain steady currently, but predictions of price firms in the near future have been reported this week.
- Fodder is being sought from the southern states of Australia, as there is a limited local supply. Demand will be much greater than supply this year.
- Prices remain steady this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($180 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
North Coast NSW
- Parts of North Coast NSW received some much-needed soaking rainfall this week, after quite patchy rains in January that has left areas of land quite dry.
- A dry January made gave this region opportunity to make hay, which is quite uncommon for this time of year.
- Rhodes grass, sorghum and millet silage is currently being baled now, which is business as usual.
- Demand was looking to increase after a dry January but the recent rains have kept thins steady. There is little enquiry reported and no changes to prices.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($280 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($350 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($180 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Central West NSW
- Demand is fairly quiet and steady in the central west of New South Wales. Regular contractors such as feedlots, dairy, equine and produce industries are keeping things steady and there is limited external demand in the market right now.
- There are predictions that demand may not pick up until winter if there is no change soon, as summer rainfall has reportedly been above average for the region.
- There is quite a lot of hay available in the region.
- Lucerne is on its 4th/5th cut, and should have another 7-9 weeks left. Quality is second-grade this year as average summer rainfall prevented cutting at the optimum stage, but yields should be adequate.
- The price of straw has eased this week. There is very little straw available in the region and is generally of poor quality with rain damage after the grain harvest.
- Prices remain steady.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($150 to $220/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($80 to $90/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to 200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Bega Valley
- Temperatures in Bega have been be fluctuating from warm to cool to up to 40 degrees this week.
- Local demand for hay is low at the moment as no one is feeding out hay. Sources are expecting demand to pick up in the next 4-6weeks as Bega soils are drying out. There is some external demand for straw coming from Wellington and Dubbo areas.
- Paddocks set aside for silage have been grazed, as expected rainfall did not come.
- There have been no price changes noted this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($320 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($120 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($140 to $210/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Local trade is very quiet in this region. There are reports of old season hay being sent up north to NSW and Qld feedlots and cattle station.
- There is also some vetch moving to dairies in the Western District of Victoria, which is selling for $180-250 per tonne before freight.
- Weather is pretty typical in the Goulbourn and Murray Valley’s with high temperatures and dry heat. There is a cool change expected this week.
- Cereal prices have firmed in the region and should continue to lift in the coming months as demand increases.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($80 to $160/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($230 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $100/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($150 to180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Gippsland
- East Gippsland appears to be dictating demand and receiving daily truckloads of hay from the West. Reports have informed that round bale grass hay is moving to beef and dairy farms in the direction of Maffra, Sale and Bairnsdale.
- There are also reports of some silage, lucerne and vetch moving from the West to Autumn calving dairies and those beginning to stock up for winter.
- Temperatures are in the mid-high thirties and humid. There is still some feed visible in paddocks in the West but the demand in the East says otherwise.
- There have been no reported changes this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($140 to $210/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($290 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($130 to $160/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($120 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Demand for fodder is still quite slow at the moment and is expected to increase in February. Enquiry is steady and regular contracts are being fulfilled.
- There is some vetch enquiry in the region which is selling for $245-$265 (+GST) delivered.
- Good quality new season hay ranges from $140-$190, although there is a lot of carryover stock selling for less.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0($110 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $290/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($90 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($110 to $160/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southeast South Australia
- There is still a lot of low-grade carryover in Southeast Australia, which has, and will continue to hamper local demand for feed.
- Land is beginning to dry out though, so it is expected that demand will increase – it’s too early to tell whether this will be enough to get through carryover.
- New season vetch is available at $200/t on farm. Limited old-season vetch is available for $180-$190/t.
- No price changes are noted this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($60 to $140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($60 to $90/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($70 to 150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Central South Australia
- Enquiry for hay in central SA is firming in central South Australia.
- Domestic trading is still fairly steady with plenty of carryover from 2016 and is not expected to pick up until the end of summer when local and interstate demand increases.
- There have been no reports of price changes this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($90 to 140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($250 to 300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($80 to $110/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Western Australia
- Demand in the Southwest is reportedly fairly steady as expected for this time of year, with small amounts of low-grade carryover and new season weather damaged hay moving to sheep farmers who lost forage from the recent cyclone.
- There is little enquiry from cattle farmers reported this week too.
- Export demand for good quality fodder is steady. Quality is high this year with minor weather damage.
- There is no price change noted this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($100 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($450 to $490). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($80 to 110/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($80 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- It is worth noting that what is classified as pasture hay in WA can vary greatly from meadow hay to sewn medics, citronella and clovers. Medics and clovers expect to get higher prices than meadow grass.
Northwest Tasmania
- Tasmania is starting to dry out however there have been a few smaller rain events in the past two weeks that have subdued demand for fodder.
- The straw harvest in Tasmania should be close to, if not already complete now. There is increasing enquiry for straw and demand is consistent from mushroom and composting farms in the north and south.
- There has been no change in price this week, but prices are expected to firm in the next month.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($160 to 220/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($220 to 300/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($100 to 140/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($140 to 190/t) Prices remain steady this week.