Hay Report - Predictable and unpredictable

Check out this speaker list - Chris Howie, Peter Law, Danny Thomas, Nigel Kerin, Prof Richard Eckard, Jess Cavanagh, Jeremy Hutchings, Neville Brady, Vic Dohle, and Jeff McDonald. All these speakers will deliver so many takeaways for Farmers. The event is "The Business of Farming". Friday, March 3rd, 2023 in Bendigo, Victoria. For an agenda and to buy tickets, click here. See the flyer below.

For the fortnight up to the 7th of February 2023.

By Dwain Duxson

We are looking forward to Vic Dohle from Green and Gold Contracting being a part of a panel to talk about Hay at our Business of Farming event in Bendigo on March 3 (see link above). The domestic and export Hay markets have been a challenge for many over the last couple of years, and I am looking forward to picking Vic's brain about everything Hay. It would be great if you could come along.

The guys are saying below it was a better fortnight compared to the previous fortnight for Hay sales.

It's kinda strange the domestic Hay industry. It's full of predictable and unpredictable outcomes. See the list below.

What's predictable?

• When there is feed around, Hay is virtually impossible to move.
• Farmers pretty much only buy Hay when they need it. It's a hand-to-mouth commodity.
• When there is a drought or dry period, buyers just buy Hay, no test required. It's Hay, it will do....I need it now.
• After a drought, Farmers say that they will never pay those prices for Hay again.
• That Contractors and Farmers that Bale the Hay will be exhausted after the Hay season finishes.
• That ABARES will never do a Hay forecast.
• There will be a lot of Vetch grown this year (going by current Vetch Seed sales)
• That no two Hay seasons are the same.
• I'm sure you could add some.....

What's unpredictable?

• Hay Stack fires.
• When the next drought or dry period is coming.
• How much Baling Twine/Silage Wrap to buy.
• Having an official Hay Industry body representing Hay buyers and sellers.
• Freight and Fuel prices.
• Selling Big Square Balers.
• I'm sure you could add some..... 

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

Cereal Hay sold up to $300 a tonne (best quality) in the last fortnight. Most Cereal Hay sold for around $240 to $260 a tonne.

Lucerne Hay sold up to $370 a tonne over the last week.

We only sold a handful of parcels of Vetch Hay in the last fortnight at a top price of $200 a tonne. It just proves where the quality of this season's Vetch hay is at. 

There were plenty of Rolls sold in the last fortnight.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - This last fortnight has seen a slight rise in active Hay Hunters, but some are finding it tough going if searching for top-quality Production Hay. While there is some mediocre to good Hay out there, not all of the pricing is realistic. With Winter around the corner, it will be interesting to see what sells and what is left on the market. I think that anything that is half decent and priced right will shift. If you have parcels hanging around without interest, it could very well be a price point issue. 

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - A lot better week with Hay sales this last fortnight, but we are expecting it will only get busier in the coming months as we are hearing that Feed paddocks are drying out down south as we creep closer to Autumn. Lucerne Hay and Vetch or any good Cereal Hay are the main lines that are moving, and we are getting a lot of listings coming through. Harvest has finished up for most, and growers can take a breath and get whatever they are selling listed. In saying that, if you have Hay from this season or previous years, don't be shy to start putting them up. Good quality will be at a premium this year due to the shortage over the last couple of Hay seasons.

Mike Pickard - Travelling around 

Mike said - A few sales of bargain basement Oaten Hay happened this week. The Hay was left over from last year and has been out in the weather. Smaller sales are happening in the better quality stuff, with the odd Semi/B Double load being sold. There is a fair bit of Hay on our website, although the quality is not there due to seasonal conditions. As weather changes, demand will pick up.

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)

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.

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