Hay Report - Keep on Trucking

As we head into a critical period, the freight industry is facing one of its toughest tests yet. Rising fuel costs, high interest rates, and disruptive weather events are putting enormous pressure on an industry that is absolutely vital to keeping Australia moving.

If freight slows or stops, the consequences are immediate. Food, Hay, Machinery, Fertiliser just to name a few depend on trucks getting from A to B. Without it, the system quickly grinds to a halt. To say it would be a disaster would be an understatement.

Australians are a resilient lot, but even resilience has its limits. These pressures are now biting hard into family-run transport businesses that have been operating for generations. Then, almost overnight, conflict in the Middle East sends oil prices surging and rips the heart out of industries like freight that rely so heavily on fuel.

And freight is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s a critical one. When transport struggles, every other sector feels it.

We are also hearing increasing warnings that Australia faces a high risk of recession in 2026, driven by intense cost-of-living pressures, high interest rates, and shrinking household disposable income.

All we can hope is that the conflict overseas is resolved sooner rather than later so some stability can return. Because Australians want to do what we do best and thats to just get on with the job.

Right now, everyone is feeling the pressure. And perhaps more than anything, people want honesty from government about where things really stand, not just what they think we want to hear.

By Shane Ruyg

Back in a fortnight.

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

Here are the latest prices.

Vetch is in the bracket of $300 to $450 a tonne (New Season)

Cereal Hay ranges from $200 to $400 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-$155 a tonne.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic-based

The past fortnight has seen a few changes in the landscape, Enquiry has eased as mounting pressure around Fuel Costs has made buyers re think there options and all but excluded buying Hay from any great distance. Rain has also had an affect with some areas receiving enough to release a bit of pressure. That being said there are still sales happening albeit more so on a load to load basis rather than Parcel buying. With all these contributing factors it has probably eased the pressure of running out of Hay as was briefly looking like happening sooner rather than later.

Mike Pickard - On the road

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic-based

I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that the hay demand has reduced, mostly due to the recent rains and things are looking pretty good on the ground in a fair few areas. Hay is still being sought after and mostly pasture hay and straw are being queried on. The larger parcels have slowed and I would expect this to start picking up over the next month. Vetch, Lucerne and Wheaten are steady movers currently. Prices are still pretty realistic across all varieties. One of the main factors is transport at this time also due to the increase in fuel costs and people are looking for hay/straw which would be as close as possible to them. Remember that if you are looking at selling hay to have a feed test done and if you are looking at buying 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 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)

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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.