Hay Report - Great Start!

We have seen a solid fortnight of rain across most areas, highlighting just how quickly the hay market can change compared to previous reports. Many are describing it as one of the best season breaks they have seen in years, with some impressive rainfall totals recorded across parts of NSW and QLD that have lacked meaningful rain and runoff for quite some time.

The rain has certainly lifted confidence and improved the outlook across many regions. However, while conditions are looking greener, it still doesn’t rain feed overnight. Some dams still require runoff, and with plenty of the season left to play out, there is still a need for follow-up rain. Crops in some areas are already well advanced, so growers will now be hoping to avoid frost events or a prolonged dry spell through winter.

As expected with the improvement in seasonal conditions, hay sales activity has eased, although we are continuing to see good volumes of hay being listed. As temperatures cool further, demand should remain steady to help maintain livestock condition through winter until spring pasture growth arrives. There is also hope that freight and hay pricing will continue to improve heading further into the season.

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 $250 to $440 a tonne (New Season)
•  Cereal Hay ranges from $200 to $450 a tonne (New Season)
•  Lucerne Hay ranges from $340 to $615 a tonne.
•  Clover & Rye Hay ranges from $350-$380 a tonne.
•  New Season Straw ranges (at the moment) is from $90-$150 a tonne.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic-based

Mike Pickard - Currently on leave

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic-based

Since our last Hay update a fortnight ago, things have slowed down a little and would most likely be due to the recent rains across southern states and all along the east coast and central northern NSW and southern QLD which has been very welcomed I should say also as a lot of happy farmers out there right now. Up to around a month ago, hay and straw were selling in large parcels at once, but we are seeing that now it is more like a load here and there. In saying that, hay is still very much in demand though but distance is still the main factor in buying Hay/Straw too as people are looking closer to them to start and working their way out from there due to the freight cost component. Prices are still pretty steady with all varieties. Remember, if you are selling hay, to have a feed test done and if 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)