National Summary
- Most agricultural regions of Australia continue to experience dry conditions in the lead up to a predicted wet winter for the southeastern corner. Hay trucks and road trains continue to shift hay around the country to where it is needed most.
- The NSW Government has announced transport grants for farmers severely impacted by drought this week, after farmers are forced to feed stock at high prices or sell off. Relief from rain for this region is not in sight yet, as the drought pushes south into northern Victoria.
- Tasmania is well into season break with pastures green and growing. Seeding has begun and Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales are all dry sewing where possible.
- Strong demand for feed is present around the country from the Darling Downs, central, west and south of New South Wales, most of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
- This week has seen a firm in prices in New South Wales central and southern regions. We recommend feed-testing fodder before purchasing to account be sure of quality of feed.
Northern Australia – Summary
- Demand for product in southern Queensland has picked up.
- Australia’s cottonseed industry is expected to produce the largest crop in the world, which may impact on domestic fodder consumption. Cottonseed is a highly nutritious feed source, with high protein, energy and roughage content. It will be interesting to see the impact of low cottonseed prices on the hay market.
- 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
- New season hay is selling quickly and carryover stocks from 2016 are beginning to deplete in Central NSW and Northern Victoria.
- Demand is exceeding supply in Central West New South Wales and predicted in Northern Victoria, Tasmania and South Australoa.
- Protein enquiry is strong and expected to remain for the next month or two.
- 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
- 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 and beef industries is strong and should continue.
- 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
- The Tablelands are having sunny weather, amenable to haymaking. There were some showers earlier in the week.
- Current on-farm activity is harvesting corn and peanuts amongst some Rhodes-grass cutting and baling for large squares and rounds.
- Regular orders are being filled and demand has not changed from slow and steady. Sources say there may be a change in enquiry over the next few weeks as cattle begin to be weaned.
- There is no price change noted this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $300/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
- There was some patchy rain over the weekend in the Darling Downs with 20mm of rainfall in Toowoomba. Temperatures continue in the mid-twenties and more rain is needed.
- As a consequence of the prolonged dry-spell, farm activity such as winter oats planting has been mostly put on hiatus until the next rain event. There is reportedly not much roughage such as barley and wheat straw in the market.
- Demand continues to be strong and consistent since the Easter break.
- There has reportedly been some added pressure on hay and grain stocks available in this region.
- No changes in price noted.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($300 to $340/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($380 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
North Coast NSW
- Light showers have returned for the North Coast of New South Wales this week and will continue for the next week.
- The recent clear weather has been good for pasture haymaking and millet and sorghum silage baling. Planting of oats and winter cereals have just started.
- Soy been harvests have begun and Rhodes grass hay and silage is being made. Local demand continues to be very slow for the region after a good season of hay and silage production. It will probably continue for a little while with plenty of hay and silage in sheds.
- There is some external demand from the central-southern NSW regions as hay supply dwindles in the Victoria and South Australia.
- Prices have not changed.
- 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
- There were some isolated storms this week but not enough to provide relief for the majority of farms in the Central West. The NSW Government has announced transport grants to support farmers affected by drought
- Farm-activity is currently idle and will continue until an autumn break, with the exception of the small patch of land that received 80mm of storm rainfall. Farmers may decide to change their crops due to inadequate summer and autumn rain.
- Hay demand is quite strong and should continue for some time as demand is exceeding supply.
- Farmers are reportedly starting to sell off stock because it’s becoming too expensive to feed. Farmers have been sourcing alternative feed such as grain although the local industry is in short supply. Hay is being sourced from Victoria and South Australia where available and low-grade carryover from 2016 is moving quickly. Export reserves are being acquired.
- Prices have firmed. There are reports of high quality canola, which was cut for hay, sold for $250 per tonne delivered.
- Cereal hay: +$65 ($250 to $300/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Lucerne hay: +$25 ($350 to $400/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Straw: +$15 ($80 to $130/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Pasture hay: +$40 ($180 to 250/t). Prices have firmed this week.
Bega Valley
- Bega is dry with no substantial rainfall reported in the last week or in April. Temperatures are still warm and nights are cooling off.
- On-farm activity includes dry-sewing of winter ryegrasses, oats and cereals, with still no autumn break. There is lots of fodder being fed out on farm as paddocks are bare.
- Local demand quite strong and consistent. Demand is exceeding supply. Prices have firmed this week.
- Cereal hay: +$10 ($220 to $300/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Lucerne hay: +$40 ($350 to $400/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Straw: +$20 ($140 to $170/t). Prices have firmed this week.
- Pasture hay: +$5 ($120 to $240/t). Prices have firmed this week.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Temperatures reached the low thirties last weekend, which is warm for this time. Weather is dry, hot and windy in the Goulburn Valley. Rain is forecasted next week.
- The heat is deal haymaking weather, with final cuts of lucerne curing before the forecasted rain hits. Farmers are dry-sewing vetch and canola and sewing vetch into pre-irrigated ground too. Irrigated lucerne silage has been made and there still may be more cut due to low supplies in the region. Winter ryegrass is being sowed, as is canola.
- There remains solid demand coming from New South Wales and Queensland, with some farmers having sold out of new seasons hay. There is also strong demand for cheap fibre in low-grade carryover from local dairy farmers. Beef farmers in the north-east of Victoria are also in demand for hay.
- Lucerne is becoming competitive to vetch, which is selling at $230-$270 a tonne delivered.
- No price changes noted.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($80 to $160/t). Prices remain steady 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
- There has been barely any rain in the last week across Gippsland and farmers are reporting a green-drought: green paddocks and dry soil. No rain is forecast for the next week and nights are cooling.
- Planting of annual ryegrasses has started but farmers are waiting for the autumn break There is very little grass available to graze.
- Demand for feed is strong in Gippsland and hay trucks are moving all around, particularly to East Gippsland and Bairnsdale. There is still some carryover hay around, which is beginning to move quickly.
- No price change noted this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($350 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($140 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($120 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Victoria
- Light, scattered and patchy showers have come through Western Victoria in the last week, yet nothing substantial to report. Cooler evenings and windy weather is reported.
- Farmers are planting ryegrass pastures however concerns of low moisture content in soils is still present. Farmers are waiting for the autumn break.
- Local demand is solid, as is external demand from NSW. Vetch in particular is in high demand, as well as carryover cereals.
- Vetch prices have firmed this week and is reportedly selling at $245-$315 per tonne delivered. No other price changes are noted this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($110 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0($250 to $310/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
- The Southeast of South Australia has received rainfall in the last week ranging from 10-30mm which has started to green up pastures, yet feed is still a few weeks away.
- Farmers are busy burning stubbles and pasture renovating before planting out.
- Demand has firmed since the week after Easter and local demand has picked up with buyers securing feed for winter.
- New season vetch is available at $200/t on farm. Limited old-season vetch is available for $180-$190/t. No price changes noted this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($60 to $160/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($160 to $250/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
- There is yet to be an autumn break in Central South Australia. Some areas received 1mm of rain in the past seven days.
- Current activity on farm is dormant especially until the autumn break comes.
- Local demand is strong. Local demand may exceed supply of round bales. Demand is particularly strong for equine quality of round bales and small squares. There is quite a bit of hay still being sourced from Queensland and New South Wales with road trains regularly filling up with hay.
- There are no price changes this week but they are expecting to firm.
- Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($110 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($250 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-$0 ($80 to $130/t). Prices remain steady this week.
Southwest Western Australia
- The eastern wheat belt has experienced some rainfall in the past week ranging from 15mm in Pemberton and 10mm in Bridgetown.
- The eastern wheat belt are planting canola and serradella early.
- Demand is steady.
- No price changes 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.
Northwest Tasmania
- There has been no substantial rainfall for two weeks in the south-east. There has been some rainfall in the north-west but it’s still pretty dry.
- On-farm activity includes planting mixtures of grass and clover, barley and wheat.
- Demand for fodder is quite strong in the north-west dairy region, which is expected to continue for some time.
- There are no price changes this week however prices are expected to firm in early winter when supply lessens.
- 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.