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Driving Prices Up
- While a rebound in pasture feed in the dry parts of Victoria and South Australia is lessening demand, there is little available supply in those regions which is requiring fodder to be sourced elsewhere and therefore freight is adding a substantial additional cost to fodder supplies.
- Hay supplies are continuing to be tight in some areas, and the reserves of older hay supplies from 2021 and 2022 are mostly depleted. Some exporters are continuing to release export quality hay to the domestic market and this is at a higher price due to quality.
- Demand is strong as expected at this time of year as cattle and dairy farmers look to good roughage to carry calving stock through the colder months. This is exacerbated by some fodder producers holding back additional supply for their own use.
Driving Prices Down
- Conditions in WA continue to improve with the good and steady rain more pastures are becoming available for grazing and further reducing demand. Soil moisture profiles are topping up, but producers are still looking to rebuild stores and ensure a steady availability over winter in case the tap turns off so prices continue to stabilise rather than drop in most cases.
- Older, somewhat lower quality fodder supplies continue to be available in the marketplace, and are being picked up by farmers looking to include them in feed mixes and fill the winter feed gap. These supplies are tightening however, and are not seeing a large price point drop.
- Some farmers who have pasture availability are considering holding off on purchases until the next fodder season starts which is reducing demand and therefore price.
Local News
- The dry conditions in the southern mainland states has been somewhat alleviated by the recent rains, but pastures are still rebounding and not at full utilisation. Containment feeding is still being undertaken parts of South Australia.
- Even after some good rains, Tasmania’s dry conditions continue for most of the state and supplies are remain tight, though the North West does have good pasture availability. Fodder continues to be sourced from the mainland.
- The wet conditions which hit northern NSW and parts of Queensland has reduced the availability of hay supplies, in both weather affected stores and the ability sow or resow paddocks for hay production. This is now showing some shortfalls.
- Buyers are encouraged to feed test and view fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.