Hay Report – 04 Feb 2022

4 Feb 2022 | Hay Reports

READ FULL REPORT HERE

NATIONAL SUMMARY

Driving Prices Up

  • Drier conditions in some southern regions are driving interest in locking away some winter feed allotments.
  • Quality hay will be in short supply in the coming months.
  • Cost of production concerns remain a focus for the season to come.
  • The cattle market with restocking and lot feeding circles at close to record levels is being monitored by the fodder industry

Driving Prices Down

  • Hay quality is being affected by the wet conditions.
  • Summer rainfall has brought good quality grazing feed as well as the reduced amount of irrigation needed for summer crops.
  • Demand from feedlots continues to be well down.
  • According to the Bureau of Meteorology, La Niña continues in the tropical Pacific, but modelling suggests the 2021–22 La Niña is near or at its peak, with a return to neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) likely early in the southern hemisphere autumn. La Niña has delivered above average rainfall across much of northern and eastern Australia this summer.

Local News

  • Varied weather conditions across the country with storm activity across the eastern side of the country again bringing varied rainfall.
  • Significant damage to roads in South Australia following recent heavy rainfall in the south particularly the Eyre Peninsula area. The impact being felt within the transport industry.
  • Trade in hay continues to be slow, which can be traditional for this time of year.
  • In Queensland, Fall Armyworm monitoring and spraying is well-underway. Summer crops are looking magnificent in the Darling Downs.
  • Continued wet conditions throughout NSW mean that there is plenty of grass in the paddocks, and summer hay production continues to be hindered.
  • Lack of rain in Southwest Victoria, and some parts of South Australia and Tasmania are driving some early enquiries from those looking to secure feed allotments for winter.
  • $50k grants for November flood-affected farmers in NSW and QLD are now available to salvage damaged crops and stock, rebuild fences and replace machinery. The grants are jointly funded by state and federal governments for those in local government areas which were disaster-declared after the severe flooding.
  • Buyers are encouraged to feed test and view fodder before purchasing to be sure of the quality of the feed.