Hay Report -1 March 2019

Northern Australia – Summary

• New season hay is being made in the region and is on the market. Supply is limited with a lot of hay being carted into the region from the southern parts of the nation.
• High temperatures for parts of the region have dried soils and affected summer crops and grass growth.
• 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 continues to offer subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1^st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit https://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 was a lot of high moisture hay baled this year with inoculants in southern Australia. If the hay has a high moisture content but is not hot it should be safe. This hay should be sold on a dry matter basis.
• There is a large amount of canola crops and failed wheat crops that have been turned into hay.
• The Government continues to offer subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1^st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit https://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.
• Hay making is drawing to a close in Western Australia. Yields in the region have been mixed but for many it has been an above average season.  
• 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 was a dry weekend in the Atherton Tablelands. Monday brought light rain to the region with Walkamin recording 2mm it has been drizzly in the region since.
• Farmers made as much hay as the could during the dry weather. The drizzle is holding off farm activity with farmers unable to spray, fertilise of make hay.
• There is little local demand however there is a lot of demand coming from outside the region from towns such as Gatton.
• 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. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.
• 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

• It was another dry week in the Darling Downs with no rainfall recorded.      
• The Darling Downs is dry and crops continue to fail. Farmers are baling these failed crops for feed.
• While demand has tapered off from its peak, it remains strong. Supply of feed in the Darling Downs is limited with farmers sourcing feed from throughout the eastern states. Hay prices quoted are sourced from outside the region.
• It has been reported that there is some sorghum and millet available in the region from $360/t.
• It has been reported there is some sorghum stubble available in the region from $200/t on farm.
• It has been reported that there is corn silage available in the region from $120/t
• It has been reported that there is sorghum silage on the market from $100/t.
• No price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($450 to $550/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($580 to $650/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($220 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($250 to $350/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

North Coast NSW

• Scattered rain fell on north coast NSW this week with Lismore recording 27mm, Coffs Harbour 32mm and Grafton 20mm.
• The rain has allowed a bit of green to come through however much more is needed. Tropical grasses are still struggling to grow in the region and water levels are low.
• Demand is high and supply is limited. Hay is being carted into the region largely from Victoria but also parts of NSW and South Australia. Cereal hay, Lucerne and straw prices are sourced from outside the region.
• Pasture hay prices have firmed this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($400 to $500/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: +10 ($250 to $370/t). Prices have firmed this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.
• The Government continues to offer subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1^st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub

Central West NSW

• There was no rainfall recorded in central west NSW this week.
• Central west NSW is very dry and a lot of farmers in the region have run out of water. Farmers are trying to decrease their need to buy feed.
• Demand is picking up in the region. There is limited local supply with hay being carted into the region from all along the eastern states. Cereal hay, pasture hay and straw prices have been sourced from outside the region.
• No price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($400 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $550/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.
• The Government continues to offer subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1^st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub

Bega Valley

• It was a dry week in Bega with no rainfall recorded for the region.
• Bega remains green, there are farmers who are still making their own feed.
• Demand is very quiet in Bega with farmers relying on their own feed. Hay in the region has been carted in from Victoria however there is no demand for this. Prices for hay are sourced outside the region.  
• There are no price changes noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($400 to $500/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 $500/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.
• The Government continues to offer subsidies for transport of fodder, moving livestock and water infrastructure to support eligible farmers in NSW affected by drought. This can be backdated to 1^st January 2018. For more information and to apply please visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergancies/droughthub

Goulburn/Murray Valley

• The weather has started to heat up again in the Goulburn Valley and no rainfall was recorded in the region this week.
• While many have dried off their Lucerne there are still some farmers making Lucerne in the region. The Goulburn Valley is extremely dry and farmers are trying to minimised feed purchases.
• Demand is steady in the region. There is limited cereal and pasture hay available in the region. There is competition from southwest Victoria and hay is being moved into the region. 
• It has been reported canola is available in the region for $230 – $300/t on farm.
• Lucerne prices have firmed this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($320 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +25 ($500 to $570/t). Prices have firmed this week
• Straw: +/-0 ($130 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/0 ($250 to $290/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

Gippsland

• It has started to heat up again this week in Gippsland and the region remained dry with no rainfall recorded.    
• Gippsland is very dry, many water flows have dried up and there are water concerns throughout the region. There are farmers who are planning on planting crops with the next rain to reduce the need to purchase feed. There are farmers in Gippsland who are currently relying on hand feeding alone. 
• Demand while strong, has eased. There is pasture hay coming from the south of the region however most of this has been moved. Pasture hay in Gippsland is of varying quality with a lot of low grade hay being moved in the region. It is postulated that there will not be enough feed in Gippsland this season. There is a lot of canola and cereal hay being carted into Gippsland from other parts of the state. Canola that has been made correctly is testing well is and is good quality feed. Cereal hay, and straw are priced from sources outside the region.
• It has been reported there is some canola available in the region from $280-$400/t delivered locally.
• Lucerne prices have eased this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($380 to $480/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: -30 ($520 to $570/t). Prices have eased this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/0 ($250 to $390/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

Southwest Victoria

• It was a dry hot week in southwest Victoria with no rainfall recorded.    
• The region has browned off however summer crops are still doing well in the region.
• Demand remains steady coming from all over the eastern states. Hay in this region is also being purchased from nearby regions such as the Wimmera. Lucerne hay is being sourced from southeast South Australia.
• It has been reported there is canola available in the region for $300 – $350/t delivered locally.
• Price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($280 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($430 to $500/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: -5 ($150 to $200/t). Prices have eased this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($220 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

Southeast South Australia

• It was another hot dry week in southeast South Australia with no rainfall recorded.
• The region has dried off and farmers are starting to hand feed. Harvest is underway for dryland Lucerne crops with irrigated crops a couple of weeks away from this.
• External demand has picked up in the region. Hay is being carted from the region to NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Pasture hay in the region is largely for personal use.
• Price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($250 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +5 ($360 to $430/t). Prices have firmed this week.
• Straw: -25 ($130 to $170/t). Prices have eased this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($260 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

Central South Australia

• The hot dry weather continues in central South Australia with no rainfall recorded in the region.
• Central South Australia is very dry. Farmers are hand feeding in the region. Crops that have been planted are not looking healthy.
• Demand is strong in the region. It has been reported that stock area taking well to canola hay and the feed tests on this vary. Canola which has had nitrogen spread with the anticipation of rain is not testing as well as those crops that have not been treated with nitrogen. There is limited feed available in the region.
• It has been reported that there is canola hay available in the region for $300-$350/t on farm.
• Straw prices have eased this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($320 to $370/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($420 to $500/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: -15 ($160 to $220/t). Prices have eased this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

Southwest Western Australia

• The dry conditions continue in southwest Western Australia with it now being over a month since rain fell.
• Southwest Western Australia is very dry. Most farmers in the region are hand feeding their stock their own feed supplies.
• The demand for feed has started to pick up. Some farmers are trying to secure feed supplies. There is limited carryover from previous seasons as most of this has moved to the eastern states.
• Cereal hay prices have firmed this week.
• Cereal hay: +10 ($300 to $380/t). Prices have firmed this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-$0 ($450 to $490). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($130 to 180/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($240 to $280/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.

Northwest Tasmania

• It was a dry week in northwest Tasmania with no rainfall recorded in the region.
• Farmers in the region are still making Lucerne and it is nearing the end of straw making.
• Demand is slow in north-west Tasmania. There is a lot of feed on the market. The south east of Tasmania remains dry and it is anticipated that this part of the region will have a high need for feed this season.
• It has been reported silage is available in the region from $50/bale on farm.
• No price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($130 to $160/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($80 to $150/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($100 to $160/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Please note unless stated otherwise, prices are per tonne, sourced and delivered locally. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.