Hay Report - And Now the Waiting Game

As we move into the peak period for dropping crops for hay, things are starting to get interesting and for many growers, quite stressful. Curing is now critical, with growers watching the weather closely and hoping to get crops into a bale with minimal damage.

The amount of bulk in some areas this season is going to make haymaking challenging, with plenty of raking and turning required to get crops into suitable condition for baling. With weather conditions currently providing some windows, growers will be hoping they can make the most of them and get crops safely into the shed.

Vetch has been progressively dropped over the past month, although weather interruptions have made the process challenging in some areas. We are also hearing reports of some very large cereal crops, with some growers talking about yields of up to 7 tonnes per hectare. With export demand not expected to absorb significant volumes, there is the potential for a substantial amount of hay to end up sitting in sheds and paddocks, waiting for demand to strengthen.

This is shaping up to be a year where quality will be critical. As the sales team has mentioned, buyers are likely to place a strong emphasis on feed tests, but I can also see more buyers wanting to inspect hay before purchasing. With concerns around weather damage, curing and the sheer volume of crop being made, buyers will be increasingly cautious about what they are buying.

The next few weeks will be important for growers as they work through the balance between getting crops off and protecting quality. If the weather continues to provide opportunities, we should see plenty of hay made but the big question will be how much quality hay the market can absorb.

Good luck to everyone getting crops off, and happy baling!

Back in a fortnight..

Shane Ruyg

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

Here are the latest prices.

• Vetch is in the bracket of $185 to $405 a tonne (25/26 Season)
• Cereal Hay ranges from $90 to $300 a tonne (25/26 Season)
• Lucerne Hay ranges from $300 to $550 a tonne. 
• Clover & Rye Hay ranges from $255-$375 a tonne. (25/26 Season)
• Cereal Straw ranges from $85-$155 a tonne. (25/26 Season)

We go around the grounds to hear from our Farm Tender Sales team:

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic-based

This past Fortnight has seen growers starting to drop crops with the weather starting to co-operate and dry some paddocks out a touch. Quality will be the most anticipated aspect of the season this year as bulk shouldnt be a problem. We have seen some slight movement in old season product with some trying to clear room for the new season stock. Feed Tests will be as important as ever along with pricing, storage and bale weights.

Mike Pickard - Currently on leave

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic-based

The hay job has still been a little slower over the past fortnight with only a few loads here and there. In saying that, hay is still going to Central to Northern NSW from VIC areas but with the fuel costs where they are, people are working as close as possible and moving outwards. Hay has started to be dropped and silage has been a hot topic too with a few with Vetch are looking at going that way. Talking to one farmer in the Wimmera area and he says that Canola in some places looks very good from the roads but once in the paddock (with the recent rains) in the low areas, the canola is not good at all. There are a few EOI for this seasons hay coming onto the market as well. I think all in all, there is positivity out there for new season hay yields. Some are also reducing last seasons hay that is shedded to make way for the new season product. Remember, that if you are looking at selling your hay to have a feed test done and if you are buying hay to inspect first.

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

Jim Oehms -- 0481 102 288 or jimo@farmtender.com.au

Or call us on 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)