Hay Report - The Great Hay Hunt

For the fortnight up to the 30th of April 2025.

By Dwain Duxson 

Demand in the last fortnight has been fever pitch. I would say 80 per cent of our enquiries on a daily basis would be Hay or Feed Grain.

When it's times like these, people's emotions become elevated, and this can cause angst. So we ask that you play nice.

When dealing in this type of high-pressure and stressful environment, we suggest you do the following:

1. Make sure you inspect or have someone trustworthy inspect the Hay. Not a Truck Driver you have never met.
2. If you are buying more than one load, book it as subject to the first load.
3. Play nice, keep a cool head, be clear with your instructions and have patience.
4. Be easy to get along with and put yourself in the other person's shoes.
5. Communicate - Whether that's buyer to seller or vice versa. Communicating regularly, or if there are any changes to the plans.
6. Communicate - With us, we are there to help.
7. Use our NPS system (now to be known as Farm Tender SafePay) to transact. Don't take risks on payment.
8. Adhere to the sales contract.
9. Don't change the goalposts before or after a deal is done.
10. Monitor your listings.
11. Keep a tab on stock levels and what's going in and out.
12. Please get weights in as soon as you can for invoicing and payment processing.

Stock levels are diminishing for a few reasons. There is plenty being sold, Farmers with Livestock have taken stock off the market, and the variety to choose from is diminishing. Are we going to run out? I am not sure, but I will say that the 2025 Hay season will be a very important one, yet again.

Interestingly, I read in the Weekly Times Hay Talk that as a rule, Straw is roughly priced at about a $200 discount to Cereal Hay. I didn't know that, but it's probably about right. Straw is very hard to find, so if you have any, please get it listed, along with your Hay.

Back in the fortnight

For 6-month payment terms through DelayPay, give Kelsey a call at 0409 117 730.

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

Prices haven't moved much in the last fortnight as many are maxed out, and we can't see them going any higher.

Vetch is in the bracket of $265 and $420 a tonne.

Cereal Hay ranges from $250 to $380 a tonne. However, there are sellers trying to push the price up.

Lucerne Hay ranges from $250 to $505 a tonne.

Clover & Rye Hay is selling anywhere from $300 to $375 a tonne.

Straw is making anywhere from $90 to $180 a tonne and is very hard to find.

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

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - We are continuing to get a high volume of calls re Hay as the Feed Gap isn't shrinking at all. We have also seen a few deals going pear-shaped when the product doesn't meet buyers' expectations; whilst you can't take all of the risks out of buying Hay sight unseen, you can lower that risk by viewing photos and feed tests and even a video of a bale getting pulled apart. Personally, I wouldn't be buying Hay sight unseen unless I had ticked off all of those options. Buying Hay is buyer beware, and if an inspection cannot be carried out by you or someone you know close by, taking these precautions might save you from any unwanted disputes or being left with a product that won't meet your needs.

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - Hay demand is at a level we haven't seen since 2018 with stock levels at a record low in both Hay and Straw. This is causing angst amongst the buyers, with Hay going as quickly as it's listed. Pricing has also gone through the roof, with many already spending record amounts keeping their Livestock alive. With rain missing in some key areas, it seems this situation will continue for some time. I suggest any sellers that have any Hay or Straw to list please do so, as this will help in a small way to keep mouths fed. Also, if you are unsure about a parcel of Hay you may want to buy; please do your due diligence before purchasing, as we are seeing some older product hit the market which probably doesn't have the same feed value or quality as the newer season product, and some are feeling duped as it's not what the thought they were buying. As you know from previous dry spells, when we get to these levels, it is difficult to keep everyone happy, but we will do our best in trying circumstances.

Mike Pickard - On the road

Mike said - As Hay Stocks diminish, the quality is not there. We encourage inspections. Hay is selling well at the present time. Although the quality is diminishing, some have left their run too late. A lot of Hay listings on the website are being closed due to sellers keeping for themselves what they have left. One large South Australian Dairy operation has purchased an irrigation place in the Northern Territory in the Douglas Daly region as drought proofing for themselves, supplying  Hay in times of need. In normal seasons they just supply to the grazing properties in the North.

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic based

Jim said - Since our last Hay Report a fortnight ago, things have ramped up a LOT since then in regard to Hay enquiries and movement. There has been Hay moving all over Vic, NSW and S.A. It is very much in high demand, and this includes Lucerne, Vetch, Canola, Wheaten, and Oaten are big movers, but in saying that, Pasture Hay and Straw are popular also. Prices are remaining steady at this time as well. I know this is a busy time for most of you, but I strongly suggest that if you are buying Hay to arrange to inspect it first. Also, if you are selling Hay to have a Feed Test done, as most look at this when in consideration of buying. (This will save any inconsistencies and problems between both parties). The weather last week was a bit hit-and-miss, and some had some very good falls, so we should get some green from that, whereas others got minimal or nothing.

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

Jim Oehms -- 0481 102 288 or jimo@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.

Buy now, pay later for Hay! Try DelayPay today.