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Summary
Driving Prices Up
- Western Australia’s dry period continues without any forecast for rain on the horizon. With the demand on fodder supplies continuing to be high to meet the needs of herds and flocks. This is leading to tightening in some lines of fodder.
- Rainfall over some of the previously dry parts of Victoria and Tasmania is beginning to see a response from those pastures; however follow up rain will be needed to make grazing viable. With temperatures beginning to drop and growth slowing, fodder supplies are increasingly being 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 fodder crops in continuing in QLD and NSW as well as some parts of Victoria which is continuing to bolster confidence of good feed availability as the temperature drops.
- Varied quality of fodder is still 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
- Limited reports of seed burst for those areas affected by flooding in early April which will require reseeding.
- The Bureau has stated that El Niño has ended and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has returned to neutral. Climate models indicate ENSO will likely continue to be neutral until at least July 2024.
- Buyers are encouraged to feed test and view fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.