Hay Report - Big buyers back

For the fortnight up to the 1st of May 2024.

By Dwain Duxson

The Hay games are starting to dominate our spreadsheets once again. It's the most activity we have had since back in 2018, 2019 and the start of 2020. The dry Autumn in WA, SA Victoria, Tasmania and the Southern Areas of NSW is starting to bite.

Up until, say, a month ago, Hay was selling in spot loads. Fast forward to now, and the big buyers are back in business. 

The question on every buyer's lips is, will all the good stuff run out? I'm not so sure about that, and really, we would only be guessing. All in all, it's a fantastic opportunity for sellers to get some stock moving. 

However, the dynamics of this mini Hay selling boom are different to pre-2020, when nearly everything was heading North with a big freight bill attached. As we write today, the further South you go, the dryer it is. This is a very rare occurrence.

Because of that, we are seeing alot of Hay move into these Southern areas where stocking rates are high. The Dairy Farmers are active. 

I did a bit of a road trip over through Central Victoria, into the Nothern Country, Southern Mallee and Eastern Wimmera and it's very dry on the surface. Every Farm I went past that had stock was either Feeding Hay or had the Grain Trailer hooked up to the Ute. And because of the low prices, most are loaded up with numbers.

To add to the demand for Hay we are seeing short supplies of both Beans and Lupins.

We just heard a report that with the big dry in WA, there was bugger all Hay left in the state, and those that had Hay were demanding up to $400 a big Bale for it.

I was just talking to Kelsey Miller from DelayPay, and he said there has been a lift in demand for those wanting terms for buying Hay. If you do need terms up to 6 months give Kelsey and call on 0409 117 730 or Mieke on 0455 888 392.

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

Prices have held steady up until about a week ago, but we are starting to see new listings at rates of around $10 to $20 dearer.

Good Vetch Hay has risen to $300 a tonne.

Straw is one of those things that is pretty negotiable, and most of the latest sales have been around $75 a tonne.

Lucerne Hay has gone up and is selling at around $370 a tonne.

We have sold some good Cereal Hay parcels recently for around $250 a tonne.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - This fortnight has seen an increased level of interest as areas are still needing a rain. Quality Hay is slowly being taken and there is talk of shortages by the end of winter on quality or production Hay. Stocks overall are still pretty good but the difference between the best and worst is fairly significant. That being said, we are still seeing new listings come online daily, but they are starting to shift just as quickly. 

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - It was very similar to last fortnight, with lots of Hay moving and lots of enquiries coming through and also seeing more listings come onto the site as the cold weather and demand lifts. There is also talk that there is not a lot of good quality Hay out there due to the previous 2-3 average years we have had, and on the back of that, we are seeing the price rise on Cereal and, in particular, Vetch Hay. I am starting to see some big buyers back, and they are grabbing large parcels to satisfy their needs. Let's hope the new season hay that is being planted gets the necessary conditions to make this season a good one.

Mike Pickard - On the road

Mike said - Inquiry for Hay is definitely on the rise. Dairy Farms are starting to lock in their Hay supplies for the winter. Enquiry for awnless Wheat and Barley Hay is on the rise in Northern New South Wales and Queensland. A fair amount of rain has fallen over last weekend across the parts of the Darling Downs from an area from Goondiwindi through to Roma across to Dalby and onto Toowoomba and all places east of there. Crops are still to be Harvested, and also a lot of Cotton has been rain-affected. A lot of the feedlots were sourcing Hay in this area, so it will be interesting to see how they stack up for feed requirements as the year progresses. A good sale of Rhodes Grass Hay in the Northern Territory with Hay being under irrigation in the Douglas Daly region selling locally to a large Cattle Station.

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic based

Jim said - With the lack of rain down South, there has been a huge shift with Hay, and the job has been very busy. A lot of parcels are moving and a lot of different variety also. Straw has been moving, too. We have noticed a lot of enquiry over the last month and feed tests are crucial to move Hay as most are looking at the numbers/percentages for their Feed.

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)

Introducing Load Looper, the invention designed by Ian and Andrea Hamilton, who are Farmers at Tatyoon. Ian best describes how Load Looper works here. "Load Looper is a weighted ball device that attaches to a loading strap to carry the strap over the highest legal loads and simplify the loading process.

To watch a video on how it works or to buy Load Looper go to the website here.

Buy now, pay later for Hay! Try DelayPay today.