Hay Report – 9 April 2021

National Commentary

• This week was a much dryer week following recent flooding in Queensland and New South Wales. The North Coast continues to receive steady rain but have not been impacted due to the elevation of the region.
• The Central Coast was by far the worst affected area from the recent flooding with dairy farmers losing stock and paddock feed. The region is starting to dry out and fodder is coming into these areas through purchases and donations. Farmers needing good roughage for stock to help them recover from the wet conditions.
• With a good autumn break now reaching the majority of the eastern side of Australia growers are now planning new seasons plantings. Many taking into consideration the minimal trade of fodder.
• While the east side of Australia are looking at an excellent start to the season Central South Australia and the west are still to see any significant rain this year.
• Concerns over mice plagues continue through Central New South Wales. The recent rain has helped eased numbers and cooler weather will also have an impact.
• 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 locally.
• Following the recent rainfall in QLD many parts including the Tablelands have had an influx of fresh grass.
• The Darling Downs region refreshed following good rainfall over the past month. Many parts that were still marked as dry have now had record falls setting them up for the coming season.
• The Fall Armyworm continues to the plague the north with reports of the worm being found as far south as the Darling Downs.
• Significant reduction in hay being made in the area this past season.
• Areas are still not carrying big cattle numbers.

Southern Australia – Summary

• A good autumn break has been received through New South Wales and Northern Victoria now.
• Gowers in New South Wales are working to prevent a mice plague following a bumper grain season.
• Continuous summer rainfall has brought on many weeds that growers are now having to get on top of before the new cropping season.
• Straw has been baled mostly in South Australia to meet contracts for the next twelve months for mushroom and chicken farms as well as feedlots.
• Demand still expected to be down for some time.
• Quality varies for the three states depending on the severity of weather damage.

Western Australia – Summary

• Hay moving domestically due to recent trade issues with China.
• 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.
• Exporter hay grading well this season with some areas able to produce super premium. Ongoing uncertainty for new season production due to current trading concerns.
• The west again starting the season dry and needing an autumn break.
• Prices remain strong for all fodder types in WA.

Regional Commentary

Atherton Tablelands

• Up to 15mm of rain has fallen in the last seven days across the Tablelands.
• Plenty of paddock feed for stock following the ongoing wet. Some standing feed that hasn’t been grazed is starting to go off.
• Harvesting of maize in the area for silage, down on previous years due to the damage from the Fall Armyworm.
• Growers continue to battle Fall Armyworm in young corn and grass crops. Spraying is working and crops are recovering. Once to a height of at least five feet the worm is no longer interested.
• Trade continues to be down in the region. Small amounts of cattle weaning in the area but with the market still strong some weaners are going straight to market.
• No changes to prices this week.
• Pasture (Rhodes Grass) hay: +/-0 ($300 to $330).
• 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 significant rain to report in the last seven days.
• The area has started to dry out following the recent heavy rainfall.
• Growers in the region now have the autumn break they needed. The area is looking the best it has in a number of years. New season cropping not due to commence for another four weeks approximately.
• Some growers taking advantage of the good moisture and will plant early oat crops.
• Trade not expected to increase hugely from the wet. Further west with the recent rain and warm soil conditions will see grasses flourish now.
• High cattle prices, farmers not restocking and good summer grass are all impacting factors on trade.
• Demand continues to be a record low for the region.
• No changes to prices this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $320/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($390 to $430/t). Prices have eased 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

• Up to 80mm was recorded this past week on the North Coast.
• The region still coping with the ongoing rainfall.
• Growers have not been able to make hay for a number of weeks now due to the wet and cool conditions. Many growers still have hay stored from last season, no shortage concerns.
• Quality grazing feed following the wet conditions continues to support stock. Stock numbers still well down in the region.
• Small amounts of hay have been moving locally to farmers needing good roughage to feed stock that have been affected by the wet. Requests also coming through for hay donations to help flood victims.
• Cereal hay, straw, and lucerne prices quoted are for supplies to be carted into the region.
• No changes to prices this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($250 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 ($200 to $230/t). Prices have eased 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. The region has experienced warm weather for the past fortnight.
• Seeding of new season crops has started in the north as well as some growers further south have started with early grazing crops.
• Growers and farmers continue to bait mice to keep them under control after building to plague proportions. Recent rain is thought to slowed numbers down. They have caused damage to hay stores and even chewing through silage bales.
• Some trade occurring onto the central coast now to farmers primarily dairy needing cereal hay for stock recovering from the wet conditions.
• No changes to prices this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($220 to $240/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($350 to $450/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

• Less than 10mm has fallen across the valley in the past week.
• The Bega region now in a good position following ongoing rainfall.
• Small amount of quality cereal hay coming into the valley for dairy farmers who have pre-committed.
• Good paddock feed available for stock following the recent rain and warm growing conditions.
• Good stores of on farm fodder are giving farmers confidence as they head into the milder months.
• Demand remains quiet in the Bega Valley.
• No changes to prices this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/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 ($350 to $400/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 for the region over the last seven days, very warm conditions with most days in the high twenties.
• The autumn break will mean growers can continue to work towards an on-time winter seeding schedule.
• Conditions over the last fortnight have been good for growers trying to complete maize harvesting.
• Demand continues to be well down.
• No changes to pricing 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 ($230 to $280/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 significant rain recorded this past seven days for Gippsland.
• The south continues to become increasingly dry.
• Growers have started over sowing/direct drilling grass with rye.
• The dryer conditions are not alarming farmers at present due to the large amount of silage and pasture hay made last season.
• Small amounts of hay coming into east Gippsland filling pre-contracted orders still.
• No changes to pricing this week.
• 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 ($100 to $120/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

• Light falls this week for the Warrnambool region with less than 5mm recorded.
• The area is still doing well and like many parts are going into the cooler season now with good hay and silage stores.
• Grass has started to be seeded in the area.
• Small amount of trade of pre-committed vetch and cereal hay coming into the region mainly to dairy farmers.
• Further north the Mallee is looking for an autumn break now so new season cropping can commence. The region hasn’t received the rainfall that was recorded in Northern Victoria.
• No changes to pricing this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($170 to $230/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($350 to $400/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($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 to report this week for Southeast South Australia.
• Some growers will consider producing less hay this season due to the continued slow trade and still carrying majority of last season’s hay.
• Local demand continues to be down. Southwest Victoria is having a good season, small amounts of inquiry are starting to come for lucerne and vetch.
• Growers will hold firm on the current pricing as they can’t afford for it to reduce any further.
• No changes in pricing this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($220 to $250/t). Prices remain steady this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($330 to $350/t). Prices remain 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

• No rain to report for Central South Australia again this week.
• Growers now working towards new season plantings. Cropping is normally scheduled to start the 1^st of May with no autumn break yet and the long-range forecast indicating rain will be four – six weeks away this will affect rotation choices.
• Growers still need a germination of grain from last year’s crops and an opportunity to then knock down these self-sown crops as well as weeds.
• Increased interest due to the dry conditions from dairy farmers as well as the equine industry in the Adelaide Hills area which indicates they are losing paddock feed and working through on farm stores due to no significant rain in the region thus far for 2021.
• Some hay moving again into northern South Australia and the Northern Tertiary cattle stations for weaning stock.
• If it continues to stay dry domestic demand will continue to increase for local growers.
• No changes in pricing 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 rain recorded again in the Southwest. Reports of a cyclone off the coast that could bring some rain to the region.
• Conditions have become increasingly dry again. Growers needing an autumn break to start new season cropping.
• An increase in domestic trade has occurred while export to China remains on hold. Growers taking the opportunity to move stores locally.
• Farmers aware that more good quality cereal hay could come onto the domestic market in the coming months.
• Concern’s growers could be left with a significant carry over due to the current export situation.
• New season cropping rotations could see growers reduce hay production and increase grains and even canola due to the current value of this crop.
• Cereal hay quality was excellent in most areas this past season.
• No changes in pricing this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($280 to $350/t). Prices remain 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

• No rain recorded for the Northwest for the first week of April.
• The autumn break received at the end of March is good timing now for growers.
• The last of the lucerne is being cut now, some growers have made it into silage rather than hay due to the slow drying time.
• A large amount of barley and wheaten straw has been moving in the region, mainly into dairy farms for the cooler months.
• No changes in pricing this week.
• Cereal hay: +/-0 ($200 to $250/t) Prices have eased this week.
• Lucerne hay: +/-0 ($300 to $350/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Straw: +/-0 ($150 to $200/t) Prices remain steady this week.
• Pasture hay: +/-0 ($230 to $280/t) Prices have eased 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.