National Summary
- A somewhat dryer week for many parts of Australia. The Atherton Tablelands continue to be impacted by heavy rainfall.
- Straw continues to be made in Victoria and South Australia to meet mushroom and chicken farm contracts.
- Traditionally movement of hay can be much slower at this time of year, but demand has been at an all-time low now for a number of months. Domestic hay sales are not expected to increase for some time. High cattle prices, green feed from summer rain and farmers with good on farm fodder stores are all factors that continue to keep trade well down.
- Summer crops continue to do well following recent rainfall.
- Conditions this year mean the quality of hay on the market will vary. Good quality hay may be in short supply as the season progresses.
- 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 locally.
- Following the recent rainfall in QLD many parts including the Tablelands have had an influx of fresh grass.
- The Darling Downs growers are enjoying the rain but have struggled to get summer crops in the ground.
- Significant reduction in hay being made in the area this past season.
- Parts of western Queensland that had been dry have now received rain.
- Areas are still not carrying big cattle numbers.
Southern Australia – Summary
- New South Wales and Victoria were plagued by wet hay making conditions.
- Some of the highest yielding crops they have seen in years.
- Lucerne continues to be cut but quality still down following wet conditions.
- Central South Australia and into the Mallee have finished off the season with significantly weather damaged hay.
- Some straw was baled to meet contracts for the next twelve months for mushroom farms and feedlots.
- 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 sell 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. Exporters looking to the west after a very wet spring damaged new season hay through Central South Australia.
- After a dry start to the season Western Australia has finished well.
- Good rain that came late in the season was ideal for many parts finishing off crops.
- Prices remain strong for all fodder types in WA.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- The Tablelands have recorded over 600mm for the month of January.
- The recent rain has meant grass in the area is ample again for livestock. Conditions making it difficult to cut any for hay.
- When hay can be cut again it will be a rank product with too much growth. Growers will be keen to get this off to allow for a better cut to follow.
- Demand continues to be slow. With the wet conditions there is starting to be a shortage of rhodes grass in small squares.
- Corn crops are being affected by army worm that arrived from Thursday Island last year. It is resistant to current forms of spray.
- 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
- No rain recorded this week for the Darling Downs.
- Already a better start to the year compared to twelve months ago with recent rainfall improving moisture levels.
- Wet conditions have made it difficult for growers to get summer plantings in.
- Current humid conditions are perfect for grass which grows best during February and March. If it can establish it will carry through till winter.
- High cattle prices continue to impact demand in the area, farmers are still to restock.
- Demand is still well down on previous years.
- 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
- A dryer week for the North Coast, storms are forecast for this weekend.
- Conditions have seen grass take off providing local dairy and beef farmers with an abundance of fresh feed.
- Wet conditions are making it difficult for growers to get on paddocks to cut and bale hay.
- Crops such as millet will go into silage within the next fortnight depending on conditions.
- Minimal amounts of hay have been moving locally. Trade is traditionally slow at this time of year.
- Depleted stock numbers in the region continue to impact demand.
- 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 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
- No rain in the region this week.
- Lucerne continues to be cut across the Central West. It has been a good season for dryland lucerne.
- Mice are in an issue in the region getting into stored hay. Farmers are having to bait them to keep them at bay.
- Current seasons weather damaged cereal hay is still testing well with 8-9% protein but mould is an issue.
- Conditions locally and onto the coast are impacting demand with plenty of feed.
- It is an opportunist’s market with only a small number of farmers buying now to take advantage of the current pricing.
- Chaff sales are well down, the lowest in seven years which is a gauge for how the current season is.
- Demand continues to be flat across the region.
- Cereal and lucerne hay have come back in price this week.
- Cereal hay: -$30 ($220 to $240/t). Prices have eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: -$200 ($350 to $450/t). Prices have eased 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
- No rain recorded this week in the region. Temperatures have been as high as 30 degrees.
- Ongoing rain needed to keep area from drying out.
- A significant amount of silage was made this season which has setup farmers for the coming months.
- Demand remains quiet in the Bega Valley.
- Small amounts of cereal hay trading for springing dairy cattle.
- No change to prices this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/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 ($350 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.
Goulburn/Murray Valley
- Dry and hot week for the region with no rain forecast for the next ten days.
- New season hay has been placed undercover ready for when demand improves.
- Many dairy farms and other livestock farms have enough fodder stored on farm.
- Summer crops are doing well in the region. Corn will be chopped for silage in the coming months.
- Very little demand in the area.
- Pasture hay prices have eased this week. All other prices are steady.
- 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: -$35 ($230 to $280/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.
Gippsland
- No rain to report this week.
- The region had started to dry out prior to the 80-100mm that feel ten days ago.
- Farmers had been feeding out silage.
- Quality of pasture hay made in the region is varied due to the wet conditions.
- Farmers are grazing feed that has boosted following the recent rain.
- There is a significant amount of hay and silage in the area which continues to impact trade.
- Small amount of cereal and vetch hay moving into the area for dairy farmers planning ahead.
- Pricing change to pasture hay this week.
- 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: -$30 ($100 to $120/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 Victoria
- No significant rain to report this week. Lighter rain falling in the Warrnambool area.
- Vetch and barley straw moving to regular dairy farms and sheep feedlots that are planning ahead.
- Growers have stored hay and will wait for demand to increase again.
- Varied qualities of hay available in the area following wet spring conditions.
- Some growers in the south still able to make silage when conditions are favourable.
- Some straw was baled following harvest in the Mallee and Wimmera.
- No changes to pricing.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($170 to $230/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($350 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
- Straw: +/-0 ($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
- No rain recorded this week.
- A significant fire burning 15,000 hectares this week around the township of Lucindale. A large number of stock and hay bales were lost. Local growers not affected are working together to send donations of hay into the affected region.
- Varied qualities of new season cereal hay due to conditions during cutting.
- Hay plantings were down this season. A large amount of silage was produced in the region.
- Some parts still have a green pick for stock.
- Demand remains very slow in Southeast South Australia.
- Domestic market moving small amounts to long term purchases.
- 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 remain 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
- No rain recorded this week.
- Exporters finalising orders after a tough season. Exporters have increased their prices for lower grade hay.
- Lentil and barley straw dumbs from headers are being baled in the region. Majority of this will be kept by farmers for their own use.
- Local domestic demand continues to be down.
- Dairy farmers in the Victor Harbor region in previous years would have needed hay at this time but are currently still able to support themselves.
- 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 rain to report this week for the Southwest.
- Cereal hay quality was excellent in most areas.
- Exporters finalising orders across the region. With South Australia unable to produce good quality hay this season due to the wet exporters are still looking to the west to fill that gap.
- Margret Reiver area continues to produce quality pasture hay this season.
- Domestic demand continues to be slow.
- No changes in pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($280 to $350/t). Prices remain 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
- No significant rain to report this week in the Northwest of Tasmania.
- Pasture hay production is continuing in the region this week with better conditions.
- Paddock feed following the recent rain has improved greatly.
- It is expected that hay production will be up on previous years.
- Demand continues to be slow across the Northwest, an increase in demand not expected till autumn and winter.
- No changes in pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($220 to $280/t) Prices remain steady this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t) Prices remain steady 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.