Hay Report - Better the devil you know

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For the fortnight up to the 22nd of March 2023.

By Dwain Duxson

Last week we mentioned that Vetch Seed sales were through the roof on the Farm Tender platform. This augers well for some decent Vetch plantings. One Farmer said to us this week, "It's about time we had a decent Vetch Hay year". He's right.

So the bright side is that there is interest in growing Hay this year, not that there wasn't last year, it just didn't pan out to be a "Hay year".

Feed Grain sales have lifted this Autumn, and the ratio of Feed Grain to Hay sales dramatically lifted in favour of Grain compared to this time last year. Farmers would be heading down the safe route buying Feed Grain (the devil you know), compared to Hay (the devil you don't know), given the lack of quality around.

As we have mentioned before, Lucerne Hay has been the saviour for Protein buyers, with prices getting up close to $400 a tonne.

It's an interesting scenario with the rebuilding of the Cattle Herd and the Sheep Flock. There is also a situation where prices have come off significantly for Sheep and Cattle, and with the Farmers have held off on selling, waiting for the prices to come up, and they haven't. These Farmers are carrying more stock than they normally would at this time of year. And that means more mouths to feed.

But in saying that, demand for Hay remains pretty flat.  

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

Lucerne Hay got dearer with a $25 to $30 rise over the last fortnight. It's the only type of Hay that is in demand. Some prices just fell short of $400 a tonne. 

Most Straw is selling for around $75 to $90 a tonne.

We think some buyers have given up looking for Vetch Hay, with only small parcels selling for around $220 a tonne.

We made sales for Cereal Hay at between $145 and $165 a tonne.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - 

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - Another fortnight of frustrating times for the seller and buyer of Hay at present, with Hay still reasonably stagnating from a seller's perspective. Buyers are still searching for quality which is few and far between. Pricing is also a bone of contention due to supply and demand. The buyer is paying a lot more for lower-quality Hay. But as the weeks go by, I think this will change if the dry continues and the weather cools down. But I have been saying that for weeks now, but nothing has changed that much apart from a few loads here and there.

Mike Pickard - Travelling around 

Mike said - If you are considering purchasing Hay, please consider a feed test and ask for some photos. The quality of some Hay is not that great in some cases.

Lucerne Hay is popular and in short supply in New South Wales and Queensland. There is currently some interest from Queensland buyers to source lucerne Hay out of South Australia.

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic based

Jim said - Hay sales have been quiet. Enquiries are still coming through, but not many are turning into sales as yet. This is likely to happen in the coming months.

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

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

Or 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)

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