National Summary
- Many parts experienced over 40 degrees earlier in the week with extremely windy conditions.
- Growers are now concentrating on their grain harvest.
- A significant amount of corn is being planted in Northern Victoria. High grading lucerne continues to be in demand, with most moving to equine customers and chaffing mills.
- Good quality cereal and vetch hay without damage is expected to increase in price in the coming months due to the limited availability.
- Little to no trade of domestic hay continues across most regions. Many growers have moved new season hay under cover and will wait for a change in demand and price.
- Areas are still reporting to have good dry feed which will carry stock through the summer unless impacted by rain.
- A large amount of silage has been produced this season in Tasmania. The area has started to be impacted by rain fronts bringing up to 20mm at a time.
- Reports that exporters are still looking to the west for good quality hay.
- 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 and boat cattle.
- Atherton Tablelands have had up and down conditions for making hay.
- The Darling Downs new season cereal hay is now in the bail, some of this has been impacted by late rain.
- Significant reduction in hay being made in the area.
- Summer rainfall would be ideal to carry rhodes grass and lucerne crops through.
- Parts of Queensland are still significantly dry.
- Areas are still not carrying big cattle numbers.
Southern Australia – Summary
- New South Wales and Victoria have been plagued by wet hay making conditions over the past two months.
- New South Wales and Northern Victoria continue to bale hay. Some of the biggest crops they have seen in years. Yields are expected to be 10/t plus on cereal crops.
- Central South Australia and into the Mallee have finished off the season now with significantly weather damaged hay.
- Demand still expected to be down for some time.
- Quality varies for the three states depending on the severity of weather damage.
Western Australia – Summary
- There is no demand at present. Some hay that hasn’t made the export grade will sold domestically.
- 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.
- Exporter hay grading well this season with some areas able to produce super premium.
- After a dry start to the season Western Australia has finished well.
- 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 in the east.
- Prices remain strong for all fodder types in WA.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- Dry and hot conditions for the Tablelands have continued this week.
- With warmer conditions now rhodes grass is needing to be irrigated to keep it going.
- Hay made post grass seed harvest is coming on the market.
- Paddock feed has dried off now.
- Demand continues to be slow.
- Small amounts continue to move locally for weaners and to Townsville for boat cattle.
- No changes to pricing this week.
- Pasture (Rhodes Grass) hay: +/-0 ($300 to $330).
- 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
- Storms this week delivering up to 30mm in parts. More storms forecast for the coming days.
- Growers getting ready to plant corn and grain sorghum.
- Good January rain will allow growers to plant soyabeans.
- High cattle prices continue to impact demand in the area, farmers are still to restock.
- Inquiry in general has slowed completely down.
- Feedlots buying as required and nominating what they will pay on the day.
- Demand still high for small lucerne squares.
- 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 significant rain and hot conditions continue in the region.
- Inquiry is down on new season hay.
- Minimal amounts of hay moving locally.
- Demand may pick up if dry conditions continue in the area.
- Small squares of rhodes grass still moving for equine customers.
- Paddock feed has dried off.
- Cereal hay, straw, and lucerne prices quoted are for supplies to be carted into the region.
- No change to prices this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($250 to $300/t). Prices down 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
- A dry and windy week for the Central West.
- Most new season hay has had rain on it at some point.
- Further east around Bathurst cereal hay is still being baled.
- Growers are onto the second cut of lucerne.
- Reasonable demand still for luncerne hay.
- Demand from feedlots is down on previous years.
- There is a big variance in the level of weather damage. There are small pockets that have produced some undamaged hay.
- Substantial amount of dry feed in the area.
- Prices remain steady this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($240 to $280/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
- Despite rain the area is quickly drying out.
- Ongoing rain ideal to keep summer feed going.
- There is water available for irrigating following good rainfall.
- Silage continues to be made in the area.
- Plenty of feed for stock, farmers looking for additional stock.
- Demand remains quiet in the Bega Valley.
- Cereal hay coming onto the coast from the Riverina filling standard orders from dairy farmers.
- Cash flow will affect what farmers can do this summer following a difficult period.
- Prices for cereal and pasture hay down this week.
- Cereal hay: -$50 ($300 to $350/t). Prices down 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: -$75 ($350 to $400/t). Prices down 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
- Storm activity again this week, no major falls to report.
- Crops have been high yielding.
- Very little demand in the area.
- Paddock feed has dried off now with hot and windy conditions.
- Growers now working on summer rotations.
- A significant amount of corn has been planted.
- 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
- No significant rain to report.
- Silage has finished in the region now.
- Areas came in dry quickly after being wet for so long causing crops to go to head.
- Corn plantings down due to the amount of silage farmers have on hand.
- Pasture hay continues to be made in the northern parts of Gippsland.
- Abundance of grass in the area with varying quality.
- Farmers wanting paddocks cleaned up where they have destocked. Quality down but will be put away for personal use during the winter.
- Dairy farmers continue to seek out good quality milking hay.
- No changes to pricing.
- 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
- 28mm of rain fell this week, taking the fortnight to over 50mm for the area.
- Late cereal hay being baled near Lake Bolac, it has been slow to cure.
- Pasture hay continues to be baled in the region with varying levels of damage due to the recent rain.
- Inquiries from dairy farmers wanting to plan ahead and spread the risk.
- Small amount of last season’s hay moving.
- Damaged vetch selling on farm for $140/t, undamaged vetch with protein up to 19% selling for $220-$240/t on farm.
- Pricing changes this week to cereal and lucerne hay.
- Cereal hay: -$15 ($170 to $230/t). Prices down this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$175 ($350 to $400/t). Prices down 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
- Millicent area recorded 20 – 40mm of rain this week.
- Varied qualities of new season cereal hay.
- High yielding cereal crops, colour good but poor feed testing.
- Exporters still to finalise orders in the area.
- The last of the pasture hay is being baled now.
- Demand remains very slow in Southeast South Australia.
- There is still straw stacked in paddocks from last season.
- New season straw is being baled for mushroom contracts.
- Demand not expected to increase until autumn.
- 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
- Late vetch with no rain damage being baled near Marion Bay.
- New season pasture hay in the Maitland area being stored for personal use.
- Early hay significantly downgraded due to weather damage.
- Big yielding season.
- Significant amount of straw is now being made.
- Barley straw heading for piggery’s, feedlots and mushroom contracts.
- No interstate demand like previous years.
- Hay for Alice Springs regular clients will move again once the grain harvest is complete.
- Growers need $150/t plus on farm for cereal hay to cover the cost of production.
- 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
- No significant rain to report for the west.
- The hay season is finished.
- North of Albany hay crops were low yielding, under 3/t with a long-term average of 5/t.
- Quality for these growers in the east was ok with two thirds going export.
- Exporters still turning to Western Australia for quality hay – premium grade.
- Domestic demand is always minimal in the west but continues to be supported by repeat customers taking downgraded export hay.
- No changes in pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($280 to $350/t). Prices down 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
- 20mm of rain recorded for the Launceston area. 25mm forecast for the coming weekend.
- Conditions have been windy with temperatures dropping away.
- Abundance of silage made and still being made.
- Oaten hay in the Launceston area excellent but concerns hay still to be cut could be damaged by wind.
- Paddock feed is excellent, keeping demand down.
- No major trade in the region, regular clients taking small amounts from growers.
- Inquiry for high grade lucerne.
- No pricing changes to report this week.
- 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.