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NATIONAL SUMMARY
Driving Prices Up
- WA’s dry period is continuing with the demand on fodder supplies continuing to be high to meet the needs of herds and flocks.
- Rainfall over some of the previously dry parts of Victoria and Tasmania will see a response from pastures however this will take some time to translate into viable grazing opportunities and with temperatures beginning to drop and growth slowing fodder supplies will still be needed to supplement pasture feed.
- More farmers are looking to secure winter feed supplies and are contracting their requirements, this is providing a floor value for some producers on in-demand fodder lines.
- Exporters remain a player in the marketplace continuing to provide a baseline price for a wide range of cereal fodder supplies.
Driving Prices Down
- Green pastures in those areas in QLD and NSW which have seen both rain and warmth continue to boost confidence in the farmers that ryegrasses and other pasture growth will continue to support stock.
- Sowing of winter feed crops is ongoing in NSW and QLD, and the likelihood that these fast maturing crops will fill a feed gap in winter is also tempering some local demand.
- There are varied qualities of fodder available on the market. Growers with lower grade hay, particularly hay stacked unprotected outside are expected to actively trade this in the coming months.
Local News
- Heavy rains over the Easter period and through the second week in April have seen flooding reported in Southern QLD and Northern and Central NSW, as well as parts of Gippsland in Victoria, there may be some limited damage to newly sown fodder and hay production crops and re-sowing may be needed for any flood affected seed.
- Dry conditions and a shortage of feed were worsened in WA this week by a fire at a feed mill in Williams, WA which destroyed thousands of dollars of stored hay and equipment.
- The Bureau has stated El Niño continues and is near its end. Climate models indicate sea surface temperatures in the central tropical Pacific are expected to return to ENSO-neutral later in autumn 2024, probably by the end of April.
- Buyers are encouraged to feed test and view fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.