National Commentary
- Central SA and the Mallee in Victoria have continued to be hindered by rain with some parts recording over 20mm this week. There will be varying degrees of damage to vetch and cereal hay. Export hay in the southern parts of Australia is expected to be downgraded due to appearance from weather damage, at this stage quality is still to be determined.
- An increase in growers who will only make limited hay and instead will carry crops through for grain. Central South Australian growers with wheat crops are considering taking them through for seed to be stored on farm rather than risking more damaged hay.
- There is still very little demand across all states. New season prices are still unclear as some parts are still to start and others now heavily affected by spring rain. Inquiry for new season domestic hay is slow, there are farmers that would like to take advantage of the low prices and put feed away while the opportunity is there. It is all dependent on quality still at this stage.
- Dairy farmers in Gippsland and Southwest Victoria are wanting to secure good quality new season vetch and cereal hay. They are looking to contractors and traders to source a good product and terms for the next twelve months.
- We caution buyers and recommend feed-testing and viewing fodder before purchasing to be sure of quality of the feed.
Northern Australia – Summary
- Demand in the Atherton Tablelands remains steady with a small amount moving for weaner cattle and into trade stores for the equine industry.
- Atherton Tablelands have had much better conditions for making hay over the last month.
- The Darling Downs crops are well on track following good rainfall over the last two months. Cereal hay continues to be cut but there is still little to no demand.
Southern Australia – Summary
- Crops continue to do well across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. With most areas receiving good consistent rainfall.
- Silage season has commenced in Central NSW and Northern Victoria with advanced crops. Central New South Wales will start cutting hay within the fortnight once the next weather front passes. Northern Victoria will also start cutting mid-October depending on conditions.
- Growers are anticipating a significant amount of hay to be made this season. With many making sure they have the undercover storage now to carry as much as they can with demand expected to slow for some time.
Western Australia – Summary
- Confidence has been restored to the west following more significant rain. There is no demand at present and will stay like this until new season hay is available with a majority of it going for export depending on quality.
- 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.
- Cutting has begun in the east and also the top of the Wheat Belt. Warm conditions are quickly finishing off the season.
- Good rain that came late in the season has been ideal for many parts finishing off crops. There are areas that have missed out especially the east and growers are expecting yields to be below average.
- Prices remain strong for all fodder types in WA.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- No significant rain to report for the Tablelands this past week, overcast days and cold nights.
- Conditions haven’t been favourable for hay making.
- Demand continues to be slow in the area due to good paddock feed and low weaner numbers this year.
- Growers prefer not to store any hay long term.
- Some farmers may look to an alternative such as growing peanuts with demand being so low for hay and corn.
- Prices are not expected to come back any further.
- Pasture (Rhodes Grass) hay: +/-0 ($280 to $300). 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.
Darling Downs
- No rain recorded this week.
- Cereal hay continues to be cut in the area.
- Demand in general remains quiet in the Darling Downs due to low stock numbers in the area. Feedlots also not wanting significant amounts either.
- With a predicted wet summer, growers are already planning for corn and sorghum.
- No changes to pricing this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($400 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($60 to $70/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($200 to $240/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
- No rain to report on the North Coast. There has been no significant rain recorded for a number of months now.
- The area is starting to dry out quickly.
- Hay making conditions have been ideal, no dew, cooler nights and warm days.
- The quality of the hay is excellent and there is a good amount being made in the Lismore area.
- Silage has been made even though there is still a significant amount of last year’s still available.
- Inquiry is down on new season hay from previous years and growers will store as much as they can.
- If conditions stay dry, demand may start to come back up.
- Cereal hay, straw, and lucerne prices quoted are for supplies to be carted into the region.
- Prices remain steady this week, cereal hay has come back and is starting to be a reflection of new season prices.
- Cereal hay: -$40 ($270 to $300/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($400 to $450/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($100 to $150/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($220 to $250/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 West NSW
- 5-10mm mid-week for the Central West.
- Silage continues to be made around Wellington including rye, clover and first cut lucerne.
- Growers will try to hold off cutting as long as they can due to high ground moisture levels.
- Crops are early with oaten hay traditionally not being made till early November.
- Nyngan area reported hay down for three weeks before being able to be bailed.
- The season has brought big crops that will yield high and growers don’t want them down to long as it will reduce the quality.
- Teff grass will soon be planted before conditions become too warm.
- Inquiry is starting to come for new season hay in particular oaten with farmers wanting to take advantage of the price and have feed on hand for when its needed again. Some inquiry for lucerne but this will depend on quality.
- No change to prices this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($310 to $350/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $700/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($60 to $80/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($160 to $200/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.
Bega Valley
- 30mm of rain recorded this week.
- Growers are continuing to make silage.
- Paddock grass should pick up in October depending on weather conditions.
- Demand remains quiet in the Bega Valley.
- Livestock that went away on agistment haven’t returned to the area, instead farmers are taking advantage of the strong cattle market and selling.
- All prices remain steady this week but with limited trade, prices may vary.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($350 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($600 to $650/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($200 to $230/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.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- 20-25mm of rain has fallen this week.
- Crops in the area are doing well and the rain was ideal.
- Growers have been spraying fungicide as crops have suffered from rust with the wet conditions in July and August.
- Advanced crops were made into silage.
- Hay will start to be cut in the next ten days depending on weather conditions.
- Very little demand in the area.
- All prices remain steady this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($190 to $220/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($450 to $500/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($70 to $100/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($250 to $330/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
- 30-40mm of rain recorded this week in Gippsland.
- Rain has brought silage making to a halt, the season had started early.
- The rain is ideal and will improve pastures and give some growth which is what growers were looking for.
- It will be a longer silage season than normal with weather conditions breaking it up.
- Spring weather in the area is seeing paddock feed start to increase.
- Corn plantings may not happen in southern Gippsland this year due to the continued wet conditions.
- Dairy farmers are wanting to secure new season quality vetch and oaten hay from the Mallee and Wimmera areas.
- No changes to pricing. By mid-October new season prices should be locked in.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($280 to $330/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($550 to $650/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($70 to $85/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($130 to $150/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
- 50mm of rain for Southwest Victoria this week. Growers in the area are reporting it to be the wettest it has been all year.
- Silage production is up on previous years.
- Vetch continues to the cut in the Mallee, as well as cereal hay.
- Growers have struggled this year with a disease in vetch caused by mould.
- There will be weather damaged hay in the Mallee, the damage will vary.
- Inquiry is starting to come through for new season vetch and cereal hay.
- No changes to pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($200 to $230/t). Prices have eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $600/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/- ($60 to $80/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($150 to $180/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
- 20mm of rain was recorded this week.
- Rain has been timely for the area and has produced a good spring.
- Crops continue to do well.
- The Bordertown region is still three to four weeks off cutting hay. Further north some earlier crops have been cut.
- Growers will hold off cutting as long as they can to try and avoid the rain events that continue to pass through the area.
- Curing could be an issue as already experienced in Central South Australia and just over the border in the Mallee region.
- Demand remains very slow in Southeast South Australia. It will be very difficult to sell new season hay.
- No change to pricing this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($330 to $350/t). Prices remains steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($100 to $120/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($180 to $200/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
- Central SA has recorded over 90mm of rain since the 15th September.
- The region from Adelaide to approximately 200km’s north has all had hay cut and impacted by rain.
- Good drying conditions needed to get hay in the bail now.
- Any hay left standing only has a week before it needs to be cut as well now.
- There will be a significant amount of weather damaged new season hay with a big variance in quality.
- Paddock grass is good, and demand continues to be well down. Cereal and lucerne hay stubbles will be able to handle good grazing this year.
- No changes in pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($200 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($400 to $480/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/- ($90 to $140/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
- Brunswick area received 30mm of timely rain.
- Across the Wheat Belt conditions had come in dry and growers made the decision to cut even though it was still early.
- Margert River area continues to make silage, pasture hay is still three weeks off being ready.
- Conditions are varied and this is resulting in big difference in yields from one property to the next.
- Predicted average for cereal hay across the Southwest at this stage looks to be 4.5/t.
- Hay plantings are significantly up this year.
- No changes to pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($330 to $370/t). Prices remain largely steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($450 to $490). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($120 to 140/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($200 to $220/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
- Northwest Tasmania received 30mm of rain at the start of the week. Another 40mm is forecast for the coming weekend.
- If growers can get the drying time it will be a good spring/summer with high yields.
- Paddocks are too wet to get on at present, some areas are now wetter than they were during winter.
- Silage will made to slow some crops down, in particular those wanting to harvest grass seed.
- Demand is down but growers are not concerned, many are wanting to get stores back up with new season hay.
- – Still good grass for anyone grazing. Dairy farmers are in no rush to plant turnips and fodder beet due to good feed.
- There is very little to no lucerne, pasture hay or straw in the Northwest.
- Prices have held this week and are not expected to come down any further.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($220 to $280/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t) Prices have eased this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($150 to $200/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Pasture hay: +/-0 ($250 to $320/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. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.