Hay Report -22 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-emergencies/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-emergencies/droughthub

Western Australia – Summary

• Western Australia is very dry and hand feeding is required in the region.
• There was a lot of high quality hay made this season and this is reflected in the high price for feed in the region.  
• 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

• Rain fell in the Atherton Tablelands with 35mm of rainfall recorded in Walkamin.
• There is hay ready to be made once the weather clears up. There is a lot of drizzle which is a hindrance to farm activity.
• 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

• Rain fell in the Darling Downs this week with Toowoomba recording 88mm.       
• With follow-up rain forecast for the region farmers are getting ready to plant crops such as oats. Some sorghum and corn crops that had been cut for hay were weather damaged in the rain.
• Demand is high in the Darling Downs. 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, millet and corn 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 ($550 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($600 to $700/t). remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($350 to $400/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.

North Coast NSW

• Patchy rain fell on north coast NSW this week with Lismore recording 121mm, Coffs Harbour 47mm and Grafton 9mm.
• The region is looking green after the rain however much more is needed. Many dams in the region are far from full. For many it looks like they will be able to get a cut of tropical grasses in before winter.
• Demand has eased slightly with the rain but remains very high and there is very limited supply available. There have been some failed crops turned into feed in the region and these vary greatly in cost and price There is a little bit of pasture hay in the region however most of this is spoken for. Lucerne, cereal hay and straw are being cared into the region from Victoria and South Australia. Cereal hay, Lucerne and straw prices are sourced from outside the region.
• No price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($500 to $550/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($600 to $700/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($250 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($230 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.
• 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-emergencies/droughthub

Central West NSW

• Scattered rain fell in central west NSW with Orange recording 4mm of rainfall, Dubbo 5mm, Cowra 3mm while Forbes only recorded light drizzle.
• Central west NSW is very dry. Farmers in the region are waiting for rains and moisture in the subsoil to plant their crops.
• Demand is very strong at the moment, many farmers in the region are putting in orders to make sure they are covered for winter. There is a high demand for roughage in the region but there is very little of this. Most hay in the region is already committed. There is limited Lucerne and straw left in the region, cereal hay and pasture hay are being sourced from outside central west NSW largely coming from Victoria. 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 ($450 to $500/t). remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($550 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices reman 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-emergencies/droughthub

Bega Valley

• Rain fell in Bega this week with the region recording 60mm of rainfall.
• After the rainfall Bega remains green. Many farmers in the region will now get an extra cut of silage.
• 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-emergencies/droughthub

Goulburn/Murray Valley

• It was another dry week in the Goulburn Valley with no rainfall recorded. 
• ummer crops have come to an end and farmers are hand feeding in the region. Farmers are waiting for and anticipating this weekends cool change. Some have dry sewn rye grasses. Water is being purchased water to get grasses going. Most farmers who are still watering Lucerne are on their last cut.
• Demand continues to pick up and hay is starting to move. Many farmers are enquiring about standing feed. Enquiry is coming from both inside and outside the region. There is very limited cereal and pasture hay 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 from $300/t on farm.
• Cereal and pasture hay prices have firmed this week.
• Cereal hay: +20 ($350 to $380/t). have firmed this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $570/t). Prices remain steady this week
• Straw: +/-0 ($130 to $190/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +50 ($340 to $400/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.

Gippsland

• Patchy rain fell in Gippsland this week with Bairnsdale recording 16mm of rainfall, Sale 5mm, Orbost 43mm, Yarram 3mm while Yanakie and Wonthaggi recorded none.  
• Rains have been welcomed in the region by those who received them but a lot more is needed. Gippsland is dry and there is little grass growth throughout the region. Farmers are hand feeding stock.
• Demand is starting to pick up in the region. 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 $340-$410/t delivered locally.
• No price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($380 to $430/t). Prices reman steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($520 to $570/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $250/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.

Southwest Victoria

• It was a dry week in southwest Victoria with no rainfall recorded.     
• he region has browned off and farmers are feeding their stock silage.
• Demand has increased coming from all over the eastern states. A lot of hay is moving north however local demand has also started to pick up. Hay in this region is also being purchased from nearby regions such as the Wimmera. Lucerne hay is being sourced and priced from southeast South Australia.
• It has been reported there is canola available in the region for $300 – $350/t delivered locally.
• Pasture hay prices have firmed this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($450 to $500/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($150 to $200/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +5 ($230 to $280/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.

Southeast South Australia

• Light patchy rain fell in southeast South Australia with Mt Gambier recording 2mm of rainfall while Keith, Padthaway and Naracoorte recorded none.
• The region is brown and in need of some good rainfall. Some farmers are still watering Lucerne and will complete their last cut in two to three weeks. Harvest is also underway for Lucerne seed.
• Demand is strong and largely coming for all across the eastern states. Hay is moving quickly from this region and a lot of hay in the sheds is now committed. Hay is being carted from the region to NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Pasture hay in the region is largely for personal use.
• Lucerne hay prices have firmed this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($270 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +30 ($400 to $450/t). Prices have firmed this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($130 to $170/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($220 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

• It was another dry week in central South Australia with no rainfall recorded.
• Central South Australia has been dry for some time now and farmers are eating into their own feed supply. Many farmers are having to reserve supply for their own personal use.
• 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. Pea hay has been testing well and is high in protein. There is limited feed available in the region. A lot of hay in the region is now committed.  
• It has been reported that there is canola hay available in the region for $300-$350/t on farm.
• It has been reported that there is pea hay available in the region for $350-$400/t on farm.
• No Price changes have been noted 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: +/-0 ($180 to $230/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 Western Australia

• It was a dry week in southwest Western Australia with no rainfall recorded.  
• Southwest Western Australia remains dry and brown. There have been some crops sewn after the rainfall last week.  
• 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.
• No price changes have been noted this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $380/t). Prices remain steady 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

• North-west Tasmania recorded no rainfall this week.
• North-west Tasmania is still green but is drying out. The region is in need of some rain.
• Local demand is slow in north-west Tasmania however demand is starting to pick up in the south of the state. 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 $170/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.