Hay Report - Straw sales lift

For the fortnight up to the 19th of July 2022.

To go directly to the Farm Tender website click here.

By Dwain Duxson

Hay and Silage sales have been pretty constant over the last fortnight.

We have noted in the week that areas in South Australia and Victoria are looking for a drink. I'm told that areas around St Arnaud in Central Victoria, which still look good, have just had just over 7 inches of rain for the year. Other areas have had less rain. I don't think it's panic stations yet, but it has a "watch this space" tag over it.

This year it's going to have to get fairly dry before Farmers would even contemplate putting Crops into a Bale rather than a Bin.

I don't think Farmers in NSW and Queensland could believe that another part of the world is looking for rain when they are looking for it to go away.

The cold weather has kicked right into gear, and it's extended North, where many are saying it's been a colder than usual winter. This has affected Stock, which are struggling to put on weight at this time of year.

There is a bit of excitement starting to build around the new Hay season. The upturn in demand over the last couple of months has given the industry a bit of a boost. We will need to replenish the stocks with quality this year.

Shane Ruyg and I will be attending a couple of Hay events in Toowoomba next week, so it will be good to hear what people are saying and where they think the industry is heading. Please, yell out if you spot the Farm Tender shirt. 

There has been a lift in Straw sales over the last fortnight, which is promising.

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

Straw has been the big mover, going from virtually no sales to around 400 tonnes in the last week. A good parcel of Shedded Straw that went from Victoria to Queensland made $90 a tonne.

We are still seeing lines of Vetch come out of the woodwork. There is not a great deal of A1 Vetch around, but the 2nd rated stuff is making mid to high 2 hundreds.

Oaten and Cereal Hay prices have stayed about the same and are floating around the $220-$230 a tonne mark.

Medium to Good quality Clover Hay making around $250-$270 a tonne. There was a lift in demand for Clover Hay in the last fortnight.

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 - With the weather continuing to be cold and frosty, we are seeing a decent uptick in the sale of Production Hay as well as some fibre or filler type options being looked at and purchased. Feed Tests again are very important as buyers of Production Hay are looking to buy off the test. 

Pricing haven't and probably won't increase a hell of a lot this season. It will be interesting to see what new season stock is around come the end of the year. 

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - Another solid fortnight with on the Hay job with another 1000mt or so moving. Vetch Hay along with Oaten Hay has been the choice of varieties. Good to see some Straw movement into Cattle Feedlot in the Riverina with the likelihood of more moving in the future.

Mike Pickard - Travelling around 

Mike said - I was talking to a few Hay Producers around the Lockyer Valley and North of Brisbane in Queensland after the floods in February. They are saying Lucerne Crops have not recovered, and now they have an outbreak of Lucerne moth, which is decimated the Crops again. So there is a real shortfall, and they are searching down South to keep the customers happy.

Oaten, Barley, and Lucerne Hay is popular, along with Silage. A lot of Farmers are still stocking up for the winter. A large parcel of Shedded Straw went from Victoria to Queensland for $90 a tonne. 

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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