Hay Report - More focus on Straw

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For the fortnight up to the 15th of November 2022.

By Dwain Duxson

It's tough to find some positives in the Hay job right now. And I hate writing negative stuff. We usually leave that to the mainstream media. But we have to tell it how it is, and it ain't great.

There was a window of a week or so of fine warmish weather for some, and they were able to either cut some paddocks or get something in a Bale. But the rain came in again late last week and over the weekend, and now some are talking a write-off.

We chat with lots of Farmers over the course of a week, and "what's the Hay job doing" is the most asked question. The main conversation is around price and what price to put on new season stuff for those that have it. But our thinking is that the price needs to be based on quality, whether it's old or new season. Consider all Hay as one line, and you just pay for the quality features.

We mentioned the opportunities that might present in last fortnight's Hay Report here. I think the biggest opportunity is Header Trail Barley Straw replacing Cereal Hay, but that might be gazumped as most Cropping paddocks are wet, and the Headers are going to make a big enough mess.

There is a positive in that WA has had a ripping Hay season, and some Farmers we are talking to are doing the numbers on sending it over East.

Mike also mentioned that many have decided to do Straw behind the Header in the Roma area. Straw has become a more valuable Feed ingredient for Feedlots over the last little while, and many of the feedlots are in that Southern Queensland area.

There has been more and more Silage made in the last fortnight.

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

Now that Hay is in short supply, prices have gone up. But it looks like old-season and new-season prices might be intertwined, and the quality will determine the price. However that said, some buyers are just saying, "I'll take it," this is what happens when things are tight. 

Medium-quality Vetch fetched anywhere from $250 to $300 a tonne in the last fortnight.

We saw Lucerne Hay prices in a range of $285-$350 a tonne over the last fortnight.

We sold some excellent quality 18/19 Shedded Barley Hay for over $300 a tonne. 

Some good parcels of Straw were sold in the last fortnight. With the best quality stuff making up to $100 a tonne.

All prices quoted are ex GST and ex Farm.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - This past fortnight has seen a continuance of Hay movement with plenty of people asking the question "What is the Hay job doing?" Pricing remains a big talking point, with some shooting for the stars to hit the moon. This season more than ever, quality will determine what $$$ Hay can bring, even though demand will outweigh supply. Pricing shouldn't end up too outrageous as the quality won't be there. Straw will become very important as Producers will look for that fibre to complement the ration whilst looking for alternative sources of both Protein and Energy. 

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - A couple of large parcels of Vetch and Barley Hay were sold over the last fortnight as the Hay job gets tighter and the rain continues to fall. Some new season Hay starts to hit the site, but as expected, it's not of high quality with Protein ok but ME anywhere from 5-8 and the NDF as high as 75. We are seeing lots of Silage being made currently, which will help with the shortfall of Hay not being produced. Just heard today that Gilmac has just put out a contract chasing Cereal Straw, which has only just been sent out as of last night, so we might see a bit of action later in the summer for this.

Mike Pickard - Travelling around 

Mike said - On a road trip last week came from Tambo down to Mitchell across to Roma and down to Surat. Harvest was in full swing. One thing I did notice was a lot of Straw bales in the Paddocks. 

Many questions are being asked with the new season Hay, and what's it worth? Any new season Hay will need to have a feed test for it to sell, given the current conditions.

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

Or 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)

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