Hay Report – 12 October 2018

11 Oct 2018 | Hay Reports

National Summary

  • We cannot control the weather but it plays a large role in activity on farm.
  • It has been a wet week in NSW, the Darling Downs and southeast South Australia. Southwest Victoria and the Goulburn Valley also received some rainfall.
  • This rain was welcomed in areas such as central west NSW, the Darling Downs and Bega who have been in need of some good rainfall; while for those in north coast NSW, the Goulburn Valley and some of of those in southeast South Australia the rain has interrupted hay making.
  • We continue to see cereal hay price changes with these further easing in central west South Australia, while firming in the Goulburn Valley. There were no price changes noted this week in the Atherton Tablelands, north coast NSW, Bega, Gippsland, southwest Victoria, central west South Austalia, Western Australia and Tasmania.    
  • There is a lot of hay being transported around the country of varying quality. We caution buyers and recommend feed-testing and viewing fodder before purchasing to be sure of quality of feed.

Regional Summary

Northern Australia – Summary

  • New season hay is being made in the region and is starting to supply the market. Supply is limited with a lot of hay being carted into the region from the southern parts of the nation.
  • 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.
  • The Government has announced subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub.

Southern Australia – Summary

  • New season hay has come into the market with limited carryover from last season and previous years.
  • There is a large amount of canola crops and failed wheat crops that will be turned into hay and silage this season.
  • The Government has announced subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub.

Western Australia – Summary

  • There is good growth in Western Australia and the domestic demand for fodder has eased. 
  • 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

  • It has been a dry sunny week in the Atherton Tablelands.
  • There has been some hay made in the region this week. These irrigated crops will be fertilised and if the warm weather continues should have another cut
  • Demand remains very high and supply is limited.  
  • There has been no price change noted this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/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.
  • Due to the shortage of hay in the region, it is cautioned to be wary of the weight of bales, with farmers packing lighter bales for sale.

Darling Downs

  • The weekend brought rain to the Darling Downs with Tawoomba recording 27mm on Saturday and a further 7mm on Sunday.
  • Some farmers in the region are planting crops now that there has been some good rainfall and that there is follow-up rain predicted. Some crops that were looking to be drought affected have come back and will be used for grain. 
  • Demand is still really strong in the region. Most cereal hay is coming in from Victoria and South Australia.
  • It has been reported there are sugar cane tops available at the moment for $180/t on farm.
  • Straw prices have eased this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($500 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($550 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: -75 ($300 to $400/t). Prices have eased this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($275 to $375/t) Prices remain steady this week.

North Coast NSW

  • It has been a wet week in north coast NSW with Lismore recording 36mm over the week and Grafton recording 33mm.
  • The Government has announced subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub.
  • There are a lot of cereal crops that are ready to be made into hay that are being turned into silage as the weather is not permitting for hay making. There is some Rhodes grass ready to be baled that is waiting for sunny weather.
  • Demand has eased from its peak but is still strong from the Tablelands. New season supply is in the market.
  • There are no price changes noted this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($450 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $750/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($250 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.=
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($350 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Central West NSW

  • Thursday and Friday brought rain to the region. Over the two days Orange and Forbes recorded 31mm, Cowra 25mm and Dubbo 63mm.
  • The Government has announced subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub.
  • The rain has helped dry land crops in the central west NSW and there is a green tinge in the region. Crops which were looking to fail may now produce some grain. If there is follow-up rain there may be some dry land Lucerne in the region. The rain has also helped dry sewn foraged sorghum.
  • Demand while high has eased from its peak. New season supply from South Australia and Victoria has come into the market. 
  • Cereal hay and straw prices have eased this week
  • Cereal hay:  -23 ($430 to $525/t). Prices have eased this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($550 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: -25 ($300 to $400/t). Prices have eased this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($400 to $520/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Bega Valley

  • Thursday’s rain in Bega continued into Friday and Saturday, the region recording a further 13mm over the three days. 
  • The Government has announced subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub.
  • The grass is starting to grow and things are starting to green in Bega. There is some silage in the region that will be made over the next couple of weeks.
  • While the demand is still there is has eased from its peak. Some farmers are trying to lock in and secure feed to last over next winter.
  • It has been reported that canola available in the region from $400/t delivered locally.
  • No price change has been noted this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($480 to $550/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $650/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($400 to $475/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Goulburn/Murray Valley

  • Wednesday and Thursday brought scattered showers over the Goulburn Valley region with Echuca, Shepparton, Benalla and Kyabram only recording 1mm while Yarrawonga recorded 7mm. 
  • The rain is interrupting hay making. Canola and wheaten crops have been cut and are waiting to be baled. Early pasture hay and Lucerne is ready for a cut once the weather is permitting.
  • There is a strong demand for cereal hay in the region. There is a new season cereal, canola and Lucerne available in the region with clover and grasses available in the next couple of weeks.
  • It has been reported canola is available in the region for $280 – $300/t on farm.
  • It has been reported that vetch is available in the region from $550/t delivered locally.
  • It has been reported there may be canola and wheaten silage being made and coming into the market at $200/t on farm.
  • Cereal and Lucerne hay prices have firmed this week.
  • Cereal hay: +20 ($350 to $400/t). Prices have firmed this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +50 ($525 to $575/t). Prices have firmed this week
  • Straw: +/-0 ($160 to $180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($330 to $410/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Gippsland

  • Light patchy rain fell in Gippsland this week with Orbost recording 3mm, Yanakie 1mm, Wonthaggi 1mm, while areas such as Bairnsdale and Sale only received a light drizzle.
  • Gippsland is in need of more rain. The west of the region has some good grass growth. There is some silage being made in the region.
  • Demand for fodder remains high in the region, however has eased from its peak. Most hay coming into the region is coming from western Victoria, the Goulburn Valley and the Mallee.
  • It has been reported pea hay is available in the region from $500/t delivered locally.
  • It has been reported there is some canola available in the region for $320-$400/t delivered locally.
  • It has been reported there is some barley silage available in the region for $130/t on farm.
  • There has been no price change noted this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($420 to $550/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($550 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($420 to $520/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Southwest Victoria

  • Patchy rain fell over southwest Victoria this week with Warrnambool recording 11mm, Hamilton 6mm while Colac did not record any rainfall.
  • Silage continues to be made in the region. new season cereal hay and vetch will be ready for a cut in a couple of weeks while failed crops up north in the Wimmera continue to be made into hay.
  • Demand has slowed in the region. There is new season supply coming into the market north of the region from Wimmera.
  • It has been reported there is some vetch available in the Wimmera region for $300 – $440/t on farm.
  • It has been reported there is canola available in the region for $300 – $350/t delivered locally.
  • There is no price change noted this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($330 to $420/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($150 to $180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Southeast South Australia

  • Tuesday brought patchy rain to southeast South Australia with Mt Gambier recording 11mm, Naracoorte 27mm, Padthaway 7mm and Keith 6mm.
  • The rains have improved crop health in the region. There is some frost affected crops as well as new season crops being cut and baled in the region, some of these crops have been left in the rain and will be weather damaged.
  • Demand has eased from its peak with new season supply coming into the market.
  • Lucerne prices have firmed this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +100 ($500 to $600/t). Prices have firmed this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($160 to $180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Central South Australia

  • Light patchy rain fell in central west South Australia on Tuesday with Clare recording 2mm, Kadina and Roseworthy recording 1mm, while areas such as Maitland recorded no rainfall.
  • There is a lot of drought and frost affected wheat, barley and canola crops being cut and baled in the region. New season hay is also being cut and baled. A lot of the crops in this region are low yielding.
  • Demand remains strong in the region with new season supply coming into the market.
  • It has been reported clover is available in the region for $250-$400/t on farm.
  • Prices remain steady this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($300 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($120 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Southwest Western Australia

  • Friday and Saturday brought rain to southwest Western Australia with Busselton recording 11mm over the two days and Bridgetown recording 7mm.
  • The rain is delaying cutting and baling in the region. Some farmers are waiting to see what the rain brings to decide what to do with their crops. 
  • The domestic demand remains steady. New seasons supply is coming into the market.
  • There is no price change noted this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-$0 ($180 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($450 to $490). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($80 to 140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($80 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.

Northwest Tasmania

  • Light rain fell in north west Tasmania on Tuesday with Smithton and Devonport recording 1mm and Launceston recording 2mm.  
  • Tasmania remains dry and in need of some rain.
  • Demand has eased as the weather has warmed. Supply is very limited. It is anticipated there will be no carryover as carryover supplies have been moved to NSW.
  • There are no price changes noted this week.
  • Cereal hay: +/-0 ($210 to $250/t) Prices remain steady this week.
  • Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t) Prices remain steady this week.
  • Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $240/t) Prices remain steady week.
  • Pasture hay: +/-$0 ($140 to $200/t) Prices remain steady this week.