Hay Report - Grass v's Hay - Grass wins....

For the fortnight up to the 15th of February 2020.

By Dwain Duxson

It's fair to say that Hay demand has come off slightly since our last Hay Report 3 weeks ago.

"Only buy Hay if you need it". If it's not a saying, it should be when describing the domestic Hay market. And right now, many don't need it, so they are not buying it.

This time 2 years ago is when the domestic Hay Market hit the wall. It rained, the grass grew, and grass has taken the points ever since. What a period it's been for Livestock Producers. It was needed.

It's a hand to mouth industry, sorta always will be, I reckon. We have mentioned how dissimilar it is to the Grains market, where there is always some demand and some sort of market.

There has been plenty of Vetch Seed being sold on the Farm Tender site lately. Sowing Vetch gives Farmer's options, and the Vetch Hay market has been ok in the last 8 weeks. Quality Vetch Hay has been the easiest line of Hay to sell. But as an alternative Crop, Vetch might be planted for Grazing and then for Green Manure as a source of nitrogen. Given the prices of inputs, some will be planning to help slash their nitrogen bill going forward.

What's happened to Hay prices over the last fortnight?

This week, we sold a ripping parcel of 21/22 Vetch Hay for $295 a tonne. The highlight was the NDF of 41.8. We haven't seen many (if any) NDF's as low as this for at least 2 Hay seasons. Most other Vetch Hay sold in this period has been from $200 to $220 a tonne. 

Reasonable testing Clover Hay has been selling for around $200 a tonne.

We sold some decent parcels of Cereal Hay at the start of the month at between $120 and $135 a tonne, but demand has dropped off since.  

All prices quoted are ex GST and ex Farm.

We go around the grounds to see what our Farm Tender Salespeople have to say:

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - There has been little change in the Hay Job since our last report. We are still seeing good quality Protein Hay being enquired on, but there is not a lot of it around. Whilst speaking to Growers, there are a few holding some better stuff back until the cooler months. This might help a few if the need is there come winter. Oaten Hay is still being looked at, but the quality and supply issues are the same. 

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - Another quiet week on the Hay front with below-average enquiry coming through atm. Vetch Hay and good testing Cereal Hay are popular varieties with buyers and likely will be the most sought after the cold weather hits. 

Mike Pickard - Travelling around 

Mike said - There is some demand for good quality Straw and Shedded Cereal Hay with good bale weights in Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland. 

A few smaller loads of Hay were sold to Farmers to put in the shed. Other than that, not a lot is happening.

End of message

For more information on selling or buying Hay contact the following:

Paul Grayling – 0447 069 082 or paulg@farmtender.com.au

Shane Ruyg – 0447 922 604 or shaner@farmtender.com.au

Mike Pickard – 0429 677 636 or mikep@farmtender.com.au

Or 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)

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