National Commentary
- The week has brought better conditions for hay making in South Australia and Western Victoria. Growers are moving as quickly as they can to get it in the bail before the next rain front comes through this weekend, which will also bring milder conditions.
- Export hay in the southern parts of Australia and in the West is expected to be downgraded due to appearance from weather damage, at this stage quality is still to be determined.
- As more hay is cut in the east curing time will become an issue due to big heavy crops and wet conditions that are predicted still for the next month.
- Inquiry for new season domestic hay continues to be slow. With record cattle prices and good paddock feed in many areas these factors continue to affect demand across many regions.
- New season prices coming through in Central West New South Wales where undamaged oaten hay is being delivered for $240 – $280/t.
- Dairy farmers in Gippsland and Southwest Victoria are wanting to secure vetch and cereal hay. They will take last year’s good quality hay rather than risk waiting to be only offered a weather damaged new season product.
- 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 cattle and into trade stores for the equine industry.
- Atherton Tablelands have had up and down conditions for making hay.
- The Darling Downs crops are well on track following good rainfall over the last two months. Cereal hay continues to be cut but there is still little to no demand.
- Summer rainfall would be ideal to carry rhodes grass and lucerne crops through.
Southern Australia – Summary
- Crops continue to do well across New South Wales, Victoria and parts of South Australia. With most areas receiving good consistent rainfall.
- With rain forecast on and off for the next 28 days it will be very difficult for growers to have a window of no rain on cut crops.
- New South Wales and Northern Victoria continue to cut 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 been significantly hindered by the past months rain on cut crops.
- Growers are anticipating a significant amount of hay to be made this season. With many making sure they have the undercover storage now to carry as much as they can with demand expected to slow for some time.
Western Australia – Summary
- There is no demand at present and will stay like this until new season hay is available with a majority of it going for export depending on quality.
- 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.
- Cutting has begun in the east and also the top of the Wheat Belt. Warm conditions are quickly finishing off the season.
- 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 the east and growers are expecting yields to be below average.
- Prices remain strong for all fodder types in WA.
Regional Commentary
Atherton Tablelands
- No significant rain to report for the Tablelands, overcast days again this week.
- Conditions haven’t been favourable for hay making with continued cloud cover.
- Demand continues to be slow in the area due to good paddock feed and record-breaking cattle prices in Mareeba this week.
- Small amounts have moved locally for weaners.
- Growers prefer not to store any hay long term.
- Some farmers may look to an alternative such as growing peanuts with demand being so low for hay and corn.
- Prices are not expected to come back any further.
- Pasture (Rhodes Grass) hay: +/-0 ($280 to $300). Prices remain steady this week.
- 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. Gatton is one of the dryer parts of the region.
- Cereal hay continues to be made in the Darling Downs.
- Some growers in the St George area are onto their second cut of lucerne. Lucerne will continue to be strong as water is still there for irrigating in comparison to late spring 2019.
- Demand in general remains quiet in the Darling Downs due to low stock numbers in the area and cancelled horse events across the state.
- A wet summer would take the pressure off irrigation lucerne and rhodes grass.
- 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 rain to report on the North Coast.
- The area is starting to dry out. Some growers have been irrigating rhodes grass.
- Hay making conditions have been ideal, no dew, cooler nights and warm days.
- The quality of the hay is excellent and there is a good amount being made in the Lismore area.
- Inquiry is down on new season hay from previous years and growers will store as much as they can.
- Excellent cattle prices continue to influence demand.
- Small amounts of hay moving for local farmers. Small squares of rhodes grass and cereal hay also going out to equine customers.
- Cereal hay, straw, and lucerne prices quoted are for supplies to be carted into the region.
- Prices remain steady this week, cereal hay came back last week and is starting to be a reflection of new season prices.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($270 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 to report this week. There is 5-10mm forecast for the coming weekend.
- Growers in the Dubbo area are trying to get as much hay bailed as they can while the conditions have been right. More hay will be cut over the next week.
- There is hay in Central West that has already been weather damaged.
- Cutting is slow going due to heavy crops and drying time needed is significant.
- Majority of new season hay will still go into storage.
- Small amount of new season cereal hay in particular oaten has started to move.
- Changes to cereal hay pricing this week for new season.
- Cereal hay: -$70 ($240 to $280/t). Prices have eased 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
- 5-10mm of rain recorded this week in the Bega region.
- Growers are continuing to make silage when conditions are favourable.
- Demand remains quiet in the Bega Valley.
- Livestock that went away on agistment haven’t returned to the area, instead farmers are taking advantage of the strong cattle market and selling.
- All prices remain steady this week but with limited trade, prices may vary.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($350 to $400/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 ($400 to $500/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
- No rain to report this week. 10-15mm forecast for the coming weekend.
- Crops in the area are doing well and the rain was ideal.
- Silage season is coming to an end, there are growers that will go back for a second cut.
- Many growers have started to cut hay this week as the crops are ready. Despite the forecast rain they have gone ahead.
- Will be very hard to get a drying window over the next three – four weeks with rain forecast nearly every seven days.
- Very little demand in the area.
- 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 rain recorded this week, there is up to 50mm forecast for the coming days.
- Lake Glenmaggie in the south is flooding, the area does not require any more rain at this point.
- It has been a good week for silage making.
- A large quantity of round and pit silage has already been made, growers are approximately hallway through their programs.
- The flat areas are a problem to get onto due to the ongoing wet conditions. Silage mostly being made on the elevated country.
- It will be a longer silage season than normal with weather conditions breaking it up.
- Corn plantings may not happen in southern Gippsland this year due to the continued wet conditions.
- Dairy farmers are wanting to secure undamaged new season quality vetch and oaten hay from the Mallee and Wimmera areas.
- No changes to pricing. By mid-October new season prices should be locked in.
- 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
- Lower Southeast received significant rain. Warrnambool area received 120-160mm of rain.
- Growers and contractors in the Mallee and Wimmera have had better conditions this week for making vetch and cereal hay. Despite the rain damage it is still bailing well.
- There will be weather damaged hay in the Mallee and Wimmera, the damage will vary.
- Cereal in the Wimmera is yielding 8-10/t and vetch is 3.5/t and up. Vetch in the Mallee is varied but yielding approximately 2-3.5/t.
- New season hay is not selling from the paddock like previous years, growers are moving it into on farm storage.
- Dairy farmers are still reaching out for last year’s good quality vetch and cereal hay.
- No changes to pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($200 to $230/t). Prices have eased this week.
- Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($500 to $600/t). Prices remain steady 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
- No rain recorded this week.
- Crops continue to do well and are just starting to finish off.
- Ten days – two weeks before cutting will start in the Southeast.
- Area is very under stocked growers will take the opportunity to make pasture hay.
- Has been a good season for clover.
- Growers will hold off cutting as long as they can to try and avoid the rain events that continue to pass through the area.
- Curing could be an issue as already experienced in Central South Australia and just over the border in the Mallee region.
- Demand remains very slow in Southeast South Australia. It will be very difficult to sell new season hay.
- 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
- Rain forecast for the coming weekend, 5-10mm.
- Better conditions this week for bailing. Overnights have been difficult with humidity coming in and not enough wind.
- There will be a significant amount of weather damaged new season hay with a big variance in quality.
- Some areas have had hay down three – four weeks with up to 100mm of rain over it.
- Reports of growers that would normally have produced hay for export have put it away in the shed and will sell it domestically due to the damage.
- 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 this week for the west.
- Hay continues to be made across the Wheat Belt.
- Margert River area continues to make silage, pasture hay is still three weeks off being ready.
- Conditions are varied and this is resulting in big difference in yields from one property to the next.
- Hay plantings are significantly up this year.
- Growers now waiting to see how their hay will grade.
- No changes to pricing to report this week.
- Cereal hay: +/-0 ($330 to $370/t). Prices remain largely 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
- 12-20mm recorded this week for Northwest Tasmania.
- If growers can get the drying time it will be a good spring/summer with high yields.
- Silage is starting to be cut in the Broadmeadows area. Reports of some silage being made too early resulting in bad bails.
- Demand is down and is a reflection of the good feed in the region.
- – Dairy farmers are starting to plant forage mix (Italian rye) that will either be grazed over the summer or made into silage in approximately January.
- There is very little to no lucerne, pasture hay or straw in the Northwest.
- Prices have held this week and are not expected to come down any further.
- 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.